Description

Castrovalva is located at the top of a rocky peak and according to the writer Macdonnel its houses look like an eagle’s nest. The village was settled by the owners of five villas. Father Paolo Finocchi wrote that the first villa was situated in the “Santa Maria” valley along with the “Santa Maria in Salicta” church; the second one was located in “Fonte Cinno” as well as the “Santa Lucia” church; the third one was set in the “Domnica” valley along with the “San Cesidio” church; the fourth one lied in the “Pagliara” valley together with the “San Rocco” church; the last one was the “Valva” castle, built on a mountain called “Castellaccio” and supported by “Corfinia”.

 

The above mentioned “San Cesidio” church belonged to Monteccassino and was assigned to the abbot “Aligerino” in order to restore the monastery burnt down by the Saracens.

The owners of the five villas joined together on the current site of Castrovalva and the studies made by Antonio De Nino have confirmed the presence of these old houses in the quarters named by Father Paolo Finocchi.

 

Before the year 1000 they belonged to the “San Vincenzo al Volturno” monastery.

As mentioned in the statute of the castles, Frederick II, Duke of Swabia, made Castrovalva a centre for controlling most of our territory.

The Angevins later confirmed the statute.

When it comes to the number of its inhabitants, it is known that in the year 1173 Castro was populated by 48 families and had around 200 inhabitants; in 1447 the village counted 78 residents; in 1595 the total population was 225.

By the time of the first census in 1640 the population was estimated to be 252, in 1669 had grown to 315, in the year 1732 had fallen to 310. It had risen to 404 in 1916.

 

Till 1500 Castro was a stronghold, belonging to the “Di Sangro” family and then was sold to the doctor Annibale Paschale of Bugnara.

Since the early 1600’s the strongholds became a trade centre and the village was given to many barons such as the “Di Salvo” family of Scanno, the “Marchesano” family, the “De Rosa” family of Napoli and then to Giovan Battista Roberti of Lucera, treasurer in Chieti, who made Castro a marquisate.

In the end, Castro was assigned to the “Pomarici” family of Matera who kept the title of Marquis in Castrovalva.

 

Today  in winter the village counts 30 inhabitants and falls under the jurisdiction of Anversa Town council.

Many descendants of the old inhabitants started restoring old houses, stables and cellars in order to make the village more welcoming and offer tourists the chance to spend the night in this small, but lovely hamlet.

Part of the success of this project is due to the owners of the “Nido d’Aquila” farm holiday accommodation.