Montefalcone di Val Fortore - Italy

Montefalcone di Val Fortore (BN)

Campania (Italy)

The City of Montefalcone Valfortore is perched between the rugged mountain ranges Daunian Apennine, part of the vast mountain chain of the Apennines Sanna, is precisely on the watershed of the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian side.
The town of Montefalcone is characterized by a type of urban structure perched around the medieval building that forms the center of town.
However, the increase of population, especially the new requirements have facilitated an extension of the houses along the roads connecting with neighboring countries, making the City acquire the typical features of a country road.
Its territory covers an area of approximately 4,216 hectares, the center is placed between 820 to 850 meters above sea level, while the districts, both old and new, are located at varying heights.
Origins of Montefalcone
Montefalcone originated from the village San Luca, without wishing to make any opposition polemic, but only report the news objectively gathered, seems to have been invaded by ants and, therefore, to protect its inhabitants took refuge in this area, where they began to build their homes and to encourage early settlements.
As regards the name Montefalcone, according to tradition and to some historians, originates from one of the most reliable theories: the first is that which speaks of the arrival of the House Falcone accompanying Normans around 1060 AD, the second would its foundation in the provision of a construction time of Montefalcone in the shape of a falcon with outstretched wings.
It seems however that we should give more credit to the first of the two theories as does Prof. Cosimo Nardi in his History of a feud that, quite clearly, is the most authoritative voice in the study of Montefalcone.
Domains Montefalcone
Montefalcone was in different historical and mainly in the Samnite period, the site of ancient settlements where traces of tombs and treasures that have often survived, the Samnites and the Romans have trampled on our territory is granted.
Is proved by the fragments of tiles and bricks occasionally come to light in the territories adjacent to the cattle track, especially in Contrada San Luca, where outcrops, with significant human remains, including archaeological finds that according to expert opinion, should be of Roman and Sunni, dating to the third and fourth centuries BC (C. Nardi op. cit. P.15)
Surely it is the center of medieval origin, as evidenced by the castle ruins still evident and the structure of the old town nestled around it.
In 1439, under the Lordship of Montefalcone Giannotto, the castle was home to King Alfonso of Aragon.
Falcone was the first feudal lord from whom the Angevin registers Mgr. Falconis.
The emblem of the university consists of a falcon and three mountains, the three mountains in their symbolic representation, constitute the three legs of the M initial Montefalcone.
Under Norman rule, the time of William II, was a fief of the two limits, then under Frederick II was in possession of Matthew de Lectio then passed to the Mansell family, to Caraccioli and Loffredo.
In 1621 it was bought by Andrea Martin, who died without heirs.
The Italian court in 1645 sold it to Francis Montefuscolo, passed to the De Santis and in 1780 became Royal Property.
Later it passed into the hands of the Duke di Sangro and then the Prince of Bocella, having been part of the County of Civitate, from Norman times, the Principality Ultra under the Anjou and the province of Foggia in 1811, is part of the province of Benevento 1861.