Matese
Encyclopedia
The Matese is a chain of mountain
s in central Italy
, central-southern Apennines.
and Campania
) and four provinces (Campobasso
, Isernia
, Benevento
and Caserta
). The highest peak, on the boundary between Molise and Campania, is the Monte Miletto, at 2,050 m, followed by the Gallinola (1,923 m a.s.l.), Monte Mutria
(1,823 m a.s.l.), Monte Monaco di Gioia and Monte Maio.
Westwards, it faces the middle valley of the Volturno River towards the Monti Trebulani, while eastwards it faces the Molisan Pre-Apennines; northwards it is bounded by the Mainarde chain and, from the south, by the Camposauro and Taburno mountains. From north to south, the massif has an extension of some 60 km, while from east to west if measures some 25 km. They are included in the regional Park of the Matese, and include a lake of glacial origin (Lake Matese), two artificial lakes (lakes of Gallo Matese
and Letino
, formed by a dam on the Lete River), as well as the ski resorts of Bocca della Selva and Campitello Matese.
in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. Later it was a center of monasticism
.
In the 7th century some villages in the area (Gallo Matese
, Sepino
, Boiano) were settled by a small Bulgar
hord led by Alcek
.
In the early 19th century it was a shelter for the anti-French partisans who were fighting against the French King of Naples, Joachim Murat
. After the unification of Italy (1861), they became the base for anti-Piedmontese brigands, including both criminals and former Neapolitan
soldiers organized in bands counting up to 600 men.
include beech
at middle altitudes and fir
at higher ones, while on lower altitudes it includes birch
, juniper
, oak
, chestnut and, more southwards, woods of holm oak
.
Wildlife includes several examples of European wolf and eagle.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
s in central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, central-southern Apennines.
Geography
The Matese mountains straddle two regions (MoliseMolise
Molise is a region of Southern Italy, the second smallest of the regions. It was formerly part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise and now a separate entity...
and Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
) and four provinces (Campobasso
Province of Campobasso
The Province of Campobasso is a province in the Molise region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Campobasso.It has an area of 2,909 km², and a total population of 230,692...
, Isernia
Province of Isernia
The Province of Isernia is a province in the Molise region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Isernia....
, Benevento
Province of Benevento
The Province of Benevento is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Benevento.It has an area of 2,071 km², and a total population of 289,455...
and Caserta
Province of Caserta
The Province of Caserta is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Caserta. The former royal palace of Caserta is located near to the city.It has an area of 2,639 km², and a total population of 879,342...
). The highest peak, on the boundary between Molise and Campania, is the Monte Miletto, at 2,050 m, followed by the Gallinola (1,923 m a.s.l.), Monte Mutria
Monte Mutria
The Monte Mutria is a mountain in the Matese mountain range, part of the central-southern Apennines, southern Italy. Having an altitude of 1,822 m, it is located in the eastern part of the massif, on the boundary betwwwen Molise and Campania....
(1,823 m a.s.l.), Monte Monaco di Gioia and Monte Maio.
Westwards, it faces the middle valley of the Volturno River towards the Monti Trebulani, while eastwards it faces the Molisan Pre-Apennines; northwards it is bounded by the Mainarde chain and, from the south, by the Camposauro and Taburno mountains. From north to south, the massif has an extension of some 60 km, while from east to west if measures some 25 km. They are included in the regional Park of the Matese, and include a lake of glacial origin (Lake Matese), two artificial lakes (lakes of Gallo Matese
Gallo Matese
Gallo Matese is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located in a valley near the Matese Apennines chain and the boundary with Molise, about 70 km north of Naples and about 45 km north of Caserta. Its territory is also home of an artificial lake with the...
and Letino
Letino
Letino is a comune and small village in the province of Caserta, in Campania, southern Italy.It was one of the villages liberated by the Italian Libertarian Communist Insurrection of 1877 by Errico Malatesta, Carlo Cafiero, Pietro Cesare Ceccarelli, the Russian Stepniak and 30 other comrades....
, formed by a dam on the Lete River), as well as the ski resorts of Bocca della Selva and Campitello Matese.
History
The area of the Matese was inhabited in historic times by the Samnites, who were conquered by the RomansAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. Later it was a center of monasticism
Monasticism
Monasticism is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work...
.
In the 7th century some villages in the area (Gallo Matese
Gallo Matese
Gallo Matese is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located in a valley near the Matese Apennines chain and the boundary with Molise, about 70 km north of Naples and about 45 km north of Caserta. Its territory is also home of an artificial lake with the...
, Sepino
Sepino
Sepino is a comune in the Province of Campobasso in the Italian region Molise, located about 20 km south of Campobasso....
, Boiano) were settled by a small Bulgar
Bulgars
The Bulgars were a semi-nomadic who flourished in the Pontic Steppe and the Volga basin in the 7th century.The Bulgars emerge after the collapse of the Hunnic Empire in the 5th century....
hord led by Alcek
Alcek
Alcek was the leader of Bulgar horde that settled in the villages of Gallo Matese, Sepino, Boiano and Isernia in the Matese mountains of central Italy. His name is variously spelled Altsek, Altzek, or Alzec....
.
In the early 19th century it was a shelter for the anti-French partisans who were fighting against the French King of Naples, Joachim Murat
Joachim Murat
Joachim-Napoléon Murat , Marshal of France and Grand Admiral or Admiral of France, 1st Prince Murat, was Grand Duke of Berg from 1806 to 1808 and then King of Naples from 1808 to 1815...
. After the unification of Italy (1861), they became the base for anti-Piedmontese brigands, including both criminals and former Neapolitan
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, commonly known as the Two Sicilies even before formally coming into being, was the largest and wealthiest of the Italian states before Italian unification...
soldiers organized in bands counting up to 600 men.
Flora and fauna
FloraFlora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
include beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
at middle altitudes and fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
at higher ones, while on lower altitudes it includes birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
, juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
, oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, chestnut and, more southwards, woods of holm oak
Holm Oak
Quercus ilex, the Holm Oak or Holly Oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It takes its name from holm, an ancient name for holly...
.
Wildlife includes several examples of European wolf and eagle.
See also
- Campitello MateseCampitello MateseCampitello Matese is an Italian civil parish and ski resort , part of the municipality of San Massimo in the province of Campobasso, Molise region.-History:Still 1960s Campitello had only a building used as shelter for shepherds...
- Castello del MateseCastello del MateseCastello del Matese is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 60 km north of Naples and about 35 km north of Caserta.-External links:*...
- Gallo MateseGallo MateseGallo Matese is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located in a valley near the Matese Apennines chain and the boundary with Molise, about 70 km north of Naples and about 45 km north of Caserta. Its territory is also home of an artificial lake with the...
- Piedimonte MatesePiedimonte MatesePiedimonte Matese is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 60 km north of Naples and about 30 km north of Caserta....
- San Gregorio MateseSan Gregorio MateseSan Gregorio Matese is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 60 km north of Naples and about 35 km north of Caserta...
- San Polo MateseSan Polo MateseSan Polo Matese is a comune in the Province of Campobasso in the Italian region Molise, located about 20 km southwest of Campobasso. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 465 and an area of 17.7 km2....