The village of Caiazzo lies about 200 meters above sea level, resting on a gentle hill that slopes southward. It stands as a natural passage between the middle and lower Volturno Valley, at the foot of Monte Grande, one of the peaks of the Trebulani Mountains.
Origins and History
According to legend, Caiazzo was founded by Calatia, a nymph and daughter of Tifata, passionately loved by the god Volturno. She is said to have taken refuge here to escape her father’s wrath. Ancient writers described Caiazzo as perantiqua, meaning “very ancient,” while historians agree that Caiatia was founded by the Oscans between the 9th and 8th centuries BC. Remains of polygonal walls on the castle hill still support this theory.
During Roman times, the city was largely rebuilt on a slightly south-facing layout. At its center ran a decumanus, intersected by fourteen cardines. The forum stood at the heart of the town, where the Caiatine benefactor Marcus Gavius built supporting parapets. Within the large urban square, a smaller square can be identified—possibly a remnant of an earlier Greek-style settlement, before the population moved down from the acropolis to its current location.
During the Second Samnite War, Caiazzo was conquered by the Roman consul Junius Bubulcus. Around 90 BC, it was violently sacked by Sulla for siding with the Italic peoples during the Social War. The city had its own mint in Oscan times and again during the Imperial period. It later became a Roman colony and then a municipium, enrolled in the rural tribe Falerna. Roads connected it to Casilinum, Capua, Trebula, Telesia, and Compulteria.
In Roman times, several cults were practiced here, including those of Janus, Evone (the Campanian Apollo), and Priapus. Evidence also points to a temple dedicated to Venus, possibly near today’s Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli. An effigy preserved at the local Pro Loco bears the inscription Veneri Felici. Honorary inscriptions referencing members of the Julian imperial family suggest either imperial benefactions or the presence of individuals linked to the imperial household in the area.
Under Lombard rule, Caiazzo became a gastaldato, and later a county when Capua rose to a principality. The Normans of the Drengot family also ruled Caiazzo in the 11th century. Over time, the county passed through various noble families—Angevin, Sanseverino, De Rossi, De Capua, and finally the Florentine Corsi family, who changed the title from Count to Marquis. The feudal system ended in the 19th century, and the castle eventually passed to the De Angelis family, who still own it today.
Caiazzo’s chronicles recall many significant events: its occupation by Roger II in 1135; the visit of Emperor Frederick II in 1229; the establishment of the schola rationum, an early accounting court with jurisdiction over much of southern Italy; the siege by King Alfonso I of Aragon; the devastating plague of 1656; and the Austrian occupation in 1707.
The town also played a role in the events of Italian unification and suffered greatly during World War II. In October 1943, Caiazzo was evacuated under German orders and later occupied by American troops. The surrounding area witnessed destruction and tragic civilian losses, particularly in the nearby hamlet of San Giovanni e Paolo.
The city’s coat of arms features a silver field with a red Latin cross edged in gold, flanked by four golden fleur-de-lis. Above it rests a marquis’s crown. Beneath, the inscription TA PRO and two clasped hands symbolize unity and forward movement.
Caiazzo has long been devoted to its patron saint, Saint Stephen, bishop of Caiazzo, born in 935 and venerated shortly after his death. The diocese was established in 966 as a suffragan of Capua. Over the centuries, the town developed educational institutions, academies, hospitals, and charitable foundations that shaped its social and cultural life.
Architecturally, Caiazzo preserves Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements. The Norman castle dominates the landscape, while elegant portals and churches—such as the Annunziata, San Francesco, and Santa Maria del Soccorso—testify to a refined artistic heritage. Works by notable artists, including Bernardo Azzolino, Tommaso Giaquinto, Carlo Ferrazzani, and Vincenzo Severino, enrich the town’s churches and public buildings.
Today, walking through the alleys of Caiazzo means moving through centuries of history, where layers of myth, art, and lived experience still shape the character of the place.
If you are passionate about history and wish to discover more about our territory, book your next stay with us and get in touch—we’ll be happy to provide personalized suggestions for your visit.
