Sessa Aurunca
Encyclopedia
Sessa Aurunca is a town and comune
of Campania
, Italy, in the province of Caserta
. It located on the south west slope of the extinct volcano of Roccamonfina, 40 km by rail west north west of Caserta
and 30 km east of Formia.
It is situated on the site of the ancient Suessa Aurunca, near the river Garigliano. The hill on which Sessa lies is a mass of volcanic tuff
.
, is believed to have lain over 600 m above the level of the sea, on the narrow south-western edge of the extinct crater of Roccamonfina. Here some remains of Cyclopean masonry exist; but the area enclosed, about 100 m by 50, is too small for anything but a detached fort. It dates more probably from a time prior to Roman supremacy.
In 337 BC the town was abandoned under the pressure of the Sidicini, in favour of the site of the modern Sessa. The new town kept the old name until 313, when a Latin colony under the name Suessa Aurunca was founded here. It was among the towns that had the right of coinage, and it manufactured carts, baskets and others. Cicero
speaks of it as a place of some importance. The triumviri settled some of their veterans here, whence it appears as Colonia Julia Felix Classica Suessa. From inscriptions it appears that Matidia the younger, sister-in-law of Hadrian
, had property in the district. It was not on a highroad, but on a branch between the Via Appia at Minturnae and the Via Latina
crater mentioned.
, under the monastery of S. Giovanni, and of an amphitheatre
.
The Romanesque cathedral is a medieval basilica with a vaulted portico and a nave
and two aisles begun in 1103, a mosaic pavement in the Cosmatesque
style, a good ambo resting on columns and decorated with mosaics showing traces of Moorish influence, a Paschal candelabrum, and an organ gallery of similar style. The portal has curious sculptures with scenes from the life of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. In the principal streets are memorial stones with inscriptions in honour of Charles V
, surmounted by an old crucifix with a mosaic cross. The hills of Sessa are celebrated for their wine.
is the brand-new small resort town of the comune of Sessa Aurunca.The village,was built since 1964,and is located near the river Garigliano,inside an Italian pine forest,and a nice volcanic sand beaches .It's a holiday town with 7 miles of private beaches,the village offers a superb combination of sea, sand and sightseeing.Baia Domizia gained the status of a main destination of summer tourism on the Litorale Domizio and is one of the best known seaside resorts in Campania Region.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of 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...
, Italy, in the province of 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...
. It located on the south west slope of the extinct volcano of Roccamonfina, 40 km by rail west north west of Caserta
Caserta
Caserta is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial comune and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Campanian Subapennine mountain range...
and 30 km east of Formia.
It is situated on the site of the ancient Suessa Aurunca, near the river Garigliano. The hill on which Sessa lies is a mass of volcanic tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
.
History
The ancient chief town of the AurunciAurunci
The Aurunci were an Italic population which lived in southern Italy from around the 1st millennium BC. Of Indo-European origin, their language belonged to the Oscan group...
, is believed to have lain over 600 m above the level of the sea, on the narrow south-western edge of the extinct crater of Roccamonfina. Here some remains of Cyclopean masonry exist; but the area enclosed, about 100 m by 50, is too small for anything but a detached fort. It dates more probably from a time prior to Roman supremacy.
In 337 BC the town was abandoned under the pressure of the Sidicini, in favour of the site of the modern Sessa. The new town kept the old name until 313, when a Latin colony under the name Suessa Aurunca was founded here. It was among the towns that had the right of coinage, and it manufactured carts, baskets and others. Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
speaks of it as a place of some importance. The triumviri settled some of their veterans here, whence it appears as Colonia Julia Felix Classica Suessa. From inscriptions it appears that Matidia the younger, sister-in-law of Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
, had property in the district. It was not on a highroad, but on a branch between the Via Appia at Minturnae and the Via Latina
Via Latina
The Via Latina was a Roman road of Italy, running southeast from Rome for about 200 kilometers.It led from the Porta Latina in the Aurelian walls of Rome to the pass of Mons Algidus; it was important in the early military history of Rome...
crater mentioned.
Main sights
The town contains many ancient remains, notably the ruins of an ancient bridge in brickwork of twenty-one arches, of substructures in opus reticulatum under the church of S. Benedetto, of a building in opus quadratum, supposed to have been a public porticoPortico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
, under the monastery of S. Giovanni, and of an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
.
The Romanesque cathedral is a medieval basilica with a vaulted portico and a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and two aisles begun in 1103, a mosaic pavement in the Cosmatesque
Cosmatesque
Cosmatesque, or Cosmati, is a style of geometric decorative inlay stonework typical of Medieval Italy, and especially of Rome and its surroundings. It was used most extensively for the decoration of church floors, but was also used to decorate church walls, pulpits, and bishop's thrones...
style, a good ambo resting on columns and decorated with mosaics showing traces of Moorish influence, a Paschal candelabrum, and an organ gallery of similar style. The portal has curious sculptures with scenes from the life of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. In the principal streets are memorial stones with inscriptions in honour of Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, surmounted by an old crucifix with a mosaic cross. The hills of Sessa are celebrated for their wine.
Tourism
Baia DomiziaBaia Domizia
Baia Domizia is a well-known seaside resort in the Region of Campania, at the border with Latium, a natural border marked by the Garigliano River. Because of this geographical position, it is the ideal starting point to discover the manifold attractions of the area. It's an area particularly rich...
is the brand-new small resort town of the comune of Sessa Aurunca.The village,was built since 1964,and is located near the river Garigliano,inside an Italian pine forest,and a nice volcanic sand beaches .It's a holiday town with 7 miles of private beaches,the village offers a superb combination of sea, sand and sightseeing.Baia Domizia gained the status of a main destination of summer tourism on the Litorale Domizio and is one of the best known seaside resorts in Campania Region.