What is Montesarchio known for?

The 321 BC Samnite ambush of two Roman armies; the verb passare sotto le forche caudine still means humiliating defeat in Italian. Fourth-century BC Greek red-figure krater showing the rape of Europa, displayed in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale del Sannio Caudino. Aglianico del Taburno DOCG and Falanghina del Sannio DOC grown on the volcanic slopes around the town; Montesarchio is Città del Vino.

Where is Montesarchio?

Montesarchio is a comune in the province of Benevento, Campania region of Italy, about 51 kilometers from Napoli.

Campania · Benevento

Montesarchio

Ancient Caudiumin the Valle Caudina, the Roman defeat at the Forche Caudine still attached to the name two thousand years later.

51 km / 32 mi

Nearest hub (Napoli)

12,959

Population

Apr–Oct

Best time to visit

Recognised as

Why come

Montesarchio sitsat the foot of Monte Taburno, in the Valle Caudina eighteen kilometers southwest of Benevento. The Latin name is Caudium, an ancient Samnite city on the road from Beneventum to Capua and the site of the Forche Caudine, where in 321 BC the Samnites trapped two Roman consular armies and forced them to pass under the yoke; the surrender was so unprecedented that the Roman Senate refused to ratify the treaty. The medieval town climbed the hill above the valley around its castle and the cylindrical Torre di Montesarchio, which still rises above the rooftops. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale del Sannio Caudino, housed in the restored castle and tower since 2007, holds the Vaso di Assteas, a fourth-century BC Greek krater showing the rape of Europa. The commune is a Borgo più bello d'Italia, a Città del Vino, and a Città della Nocciola.

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Gallery

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Known for

Castello di Montesarchio
Medieval fortress on the hill above the town, restored and reopened in 2007 as part of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale del Sannio Caudino.
Torre di Montesarchio
Cylindrical fifteenth-century tower next to the castle at 420 meters, the highest point of the centro and visible across the Valle Caudina.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale del Sannio Caudino
Archaeological museum in the castle, holding the Vaso di Assteas with the rape of Europa, fourth-century BC Greek red-figure krater.
Forche Caudine
The pass below the town where in 321 BC the Samnites forced two Roman consular armies to surrender and pass under the yoke.
Monte Taburno
1,394-meter peak above the town inside the Parco Regionale del Taburno-Camposauro, with hiking trails from the centro upward.

When to visit

Best months · Apr–Oct

Best
Hot or crowded
Quiet
Mostly closed

April through early June and September into October are the months for Montesarchio. The Valle Caudina greens and the trails up Monte Taburno open without the haze of late summer. July and August can climb past thirty-five degrees on the floor of the valley, though the castle and tower at 420 meters cool earlier in the evening. November through March is quiet. The museum runs on shorter hours, the wine cellars around the Taburno-Camposauro park stay open by appointment, and the centro keeps its bars going through winter. The hazelnut harvest of the Nocciola di Avellino DOP cluster around the commune runs from late August into September.