Pozzilli, Province of Isernia, Molise
Situated in the Volturno valley just below the Mainarde mountains with a wonderful view of the Matese, is surrounded by forests of pines and oak trees while the hills below are covered with olive trees and vineyards. Thanks to a good connection between farming and industries, Pozzilli is one of the very few municipalities in Molise showing a rise in population.
Info
- Altitude: 235 m a.s.l
- Population: about 2300 inhabitants in 2018
- Zip/postal code: 86077
- Dialing Area Code: +39 0865
- Patron Saint: St. Anna, celebrated on 26 July
- Frazioni & Localities: Camerelle, Colle Grotte, Leone, Santa Maria Oliveto, Taverna Triverno.
History
The Romans had built in the territory of present-day Pozzilli an aqueduct collecting the waters of the Volturno river, and the name Pozzilli probably derives from the presence of small wells (pozzilli) connected to the Venafro aqueduct.
Pozzilli was founded only some centuries ago, much later than its frazione Santa Maria Oliveto, going back to 839 AD, when the abbot Castel San Vincenzo sent here a colony from the Valva area (near Sulmona) to build a hamlet on the hill around the church of San Lorenzo. In 1234 the fiefdom was under Ruggiero Galluccio, then passed to Gualtiero d'Aversa, and in the 16th century to the Pandone and finally to the Gaetani family, until 1806 when feudalism was abolished.
What to see
- The church of Santa Caterina, built in 13th century by Benedictine monks and restored during the 17th century, also called the "Chiesa Vecchia".
- The Medieval Walls with 12 towers, located in Santa Maria Oliveto.
- The 11th-12th century Church of Santa Lucia, now abandoned.
- The hamlet of Santa Maria Oliveto, much older than Pozzilli, where the Romans had a settlement to control the aqueduct; nowadays the medieval borough is still mostly intact, and among the main sights are the Torre, the Porta Saracena, and the church of San Lorenzo.
- Remains of the Roman aqueduct of Venafro and of ancient spas near the springs of the Triverno stream, where a "tabula aquaria" dated 26 BC was found, containing instructions on the aqueduct maintenance.
Events and Festivities
- July 26: Sant'Anna
- First Sunday in June: feast of the Elderly.
Genealogy & Links
Pozzilli was founded only some centuries ago, much later than its frazione Santa Maria Oliveto, going back to 839 AD, when the abbot Castel San Vincenzo sent here a colony from the Valva area (near Sulmona) to build a hamlet on the hill around the church of San Lorenzo. In 1234 the fiefdom was under Ruggiero Galluccio, then passed to Gualtiero d'Aversa, and in the 16th century to the Pandone and finally to the Gaetani family, until 1806 when feudalism was abolished.
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Surnames in the Provinces of Molise
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Abruzzo | Basilicata | Calabria | Campania | Emilia-Romagna | Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Latium | Liguria | Lombardy | Marche | Molise | Piedmont | Puglia | Sardinia | Sicily | Tuscany | Trentino-Alto Adige | Umbria | Valle d'Aosta | Veneto
