Macchiagodena () is a town and in the
province of Isernia
The province of Isernia ( it, provincia di Isernia) is a province in the region of Molise in Italy. The provincial capital is the city Isernia and the president of the province is Alfredo Ricci. The province of Isernia has an area of and a popul ...
, located high in the
Apennine mountains in the region of
Molise
Molise (, , ; nap, label=Neapolitan language, Neapolitan, Mulise) is a Regions of Italy, region of Southern Italy. Until 1963, it formed part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise, alongside the region of Abruzzo. The split, which did not become effe ...
, southern
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
.
History
The present name of the city appeared for the first time in a document of the year 964 CE as ''Maccia de Godena''. It was a garrison post between the
Lombard countdoms of
Isernia
Isernia () or, in Pliny and later writers, ''Eserninus'', or in the Antonine Itinerary, ''Serni''. is a town and ''comune'' in the southern Italian region of Molise, and the capital of province of Isernia.
Geography
Situated on a rocky crest ri ...
and
Boiano
Bojano or Boiano is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Campobasso, Molise, south-central Italy.
History
Originally named Bovianum, it was settled by the 7th century BC. As the capital of the Pentri, a tribe of the Samnites, it played a majo ...
, and later a sighting post along the Pescasseroli-Candela ''tratturo'' (shepherds' track). A great number of feudal lords came one after the other to take control of the castle (due to the high vantage point overlooking the valley), including the Pandoni and the Mormile.
Many of the early to mid 20th Century inhabitants emigrated to numerous countries, including Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and USA.
Main sights
The Castle of Macchiagodena, with a polygonal plant, was constructed on one limestone cliff spur.
Of the castle today, only the basements of the old wall and two towers remain. The Castello (Castle) was put up for sale and was purchased in November 2009 by the Regione of Molise. The Regione decided to purchase the castle for its preservation for public use and part of it may be used as a regional historical museum. Also noteworthy is the Church of ''Santa Maria Assunta'', with a statue made by Francesco Saverio Citarelli from Naples, and a precious processional cross.
Culture
Every year during the 3rd Sunday in May a fine large fair is held to celebrate the feast day of San Nicola, the patron saint of the town.
A peculiar tradition is still maintained by some of the population: known as ''
rapimento'' ("kidnapping"), it consists in the kidnapping of the future bride some time before the wedding is celebrated. Another tradition is a local dance called "tuzacula".
References
{{Molise-geo-stub