Gioia Sannitica and its castle: remains and legends of a Norman stronghold

Gioia Sannitica is a town in the upper Caserta area, characterized by the subdivision of the territory into several villages. The area is located on the border between Caserta and Benevento and is surmounted by the Matese mountains. Gioia Sannitica castle is a Norman stronghold symbol of the city around which it developed. Today there are several remains of the castle which is located on a hill in the Caselle district. The road to get there is not complex, and the area is divided into two: on one side the archaeological area and on the other the real castle. To visit it it is necessary to follow a path bordered on the left by the walls of the fort and on the right by a steep and deep cliff. The different walls show the stratifications of the different building works over the years. Near the tower there is a large space with a fireplace, still visible, where the castle hall was probably located. Both the remains of the noble residence and the area destined to the houses of the people are visible, in the latter about forty residential units have been found, while the noble part seems to consisted of three floors. The total collapse and depopulation of the castle probably date back to the mid-15th century and are due to the earthquake and some plague epidemics.