Bojano

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Comune di Bojano
Coat of arms of Comune di Bojano
Municipal coat of arms
Country Italy Italy
Region Molise
Province Campobasso (CB)
Mayor
Elevation 480 m
Area 49 km²
Population
 - Total (as of 2004-12-31) 8,273
 - Density 170/km²
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 41°29′N 14°28′E
Gentilic Bojanesi
Dialing code 0874
Postal code 86021
Frazioni see list
Patron St. Bartholomew
 - Day August 25
Website: www.comune.bojano.cb.it

Bojano or Boiano is a town and comune in the province of Campobasso, Molise, southern Italy.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally named Bovianum, it was settled by the 7th century BC. As the capital of the Pentri Samnites, it played a major role in the Samnite Wars, as well as in the Social War, when it was a temporary capital (93 BC). It was sacked by Sulla.

It was colonized under both the triumvirates, and by Vespasian, who settled veterans of Legio XI Claudia (whence the name Bovianum Undecumanorum), and remained an important centre into late antiquity.

After the Lombard conquest, the deserted area was given to a group of Bulgars and became a seat of a gastaldate. After two centuries marked by Saracen attacks, in the mid-11th century it was conquered by the Hauteville Normans, becoming a fief of Raoul de Moulins, a companion to Robert Guiscard. The city became a county capital.

The city was destroyed by a long series of earthquakes, the last occurring in 1913.

[edit] Main sights

Remains of Cyclopean walls remain on the heights above the modern town. Other attraction include:

  • The Cathedral of St. Bartholomew (11th century), several times damaged by earthquakes. The apse is still in Norman style.
  • The church of Sts. Erasmus and Marinus, with a noteworthy Gothic portal.
  • The Hermitage of St. Egidius, on a 1,025 m high mountain in the neighbourhood.
  • The remains of the Norman Castle.

[edit] Fractions

Alifana, Campi Marzi, Castellone, Ciccagne, Chiovitti, Civita Superiore, Codacchio, Cucciolene, Fonte delle Felci, Imperato, Limpiilli, Majella, Malatesta, Monteverde, Pallotta, Pietre Cadute, Pinciere, Pitoscia, Pitti, Prusciello, Rio Freddo, Santa Maria dei Rivoli, Sant'Antonio Abate, Tilli Tilli.

[edit] References