Bellona – Ancient Traces, Churches and Remembrance Culture

Bellona lies on the northeastern edge of the Volturno plain, where the first foothills of the Monte Maggiore massif begin. The town combines ancient traces, religious art and a compelling culture of remembrance. If you are looking for accommodation for a culture-focused trip to Italy, Bellona offers various points of interest: from remnants of fortifications and Roman remains to churches, festivals and places of remembrance.

Archaeological Traces in the Landscape

On Monte Grande, a hill located north of the town, polygonal fortification remains from the 4th–3rd century BC are visible. Their circumference is approximately 400 metres. The site brings the area’s earlier history to life in a landscape shaped both by the Volturno plain and the first slopes of Monte Maggiore.

Further remains can be found in various locations. At the Camarelle delle Fate at the foot of the S. Croce hill northeast of Bellona are the remains of a large rural villa from the 2nd century BC, laid out on three levels. In the riverbed of the Volturno, near the present-day bridge, fragments of the ancient Ponte Annibale lie within a small archaeologically protected area. A bridge built after the Second World War on the site of the Ponte Annibale now connects Bellona with Sant'Angelo in Formis, Capua and Santa Maria Capua Vetere.

Churches, Art and Religious History

Bellona’s most important Catholic place of worship is the Chiesa Arcipretale di San Secondino Vescovo e Confessore. The present building dates from 1473 and was expanded from an earlier Romanesque church with a Latin-cross floor plan. After several renovations, the church acquired its present form in 1821. Among its defining features is a 15th-century octagonal dome with a diameter of approximately 15 metres; it was restored by the municipality in 1830. Around twenty statues are preserved inside, most of them dating from the 18th to the 20th century.

The history of the veneration of Maria SS. di Gerusalemme is also part of Bellona’s cultural profile. The statue was first created in 1806 and finally brought to Bellona in 1810. The cult originally centred on a chapel on Monte Rageto. There was a fresco there, commissioned in 1419 by Priamo Marra from Bellona, depicting the Madonna and Child. The Sancta Jerusalem chapel was built by Riccardo II, Prince of Capua, at the end of the crusade to recapture Jerusalem. The celebrations for Maria SS. di Gerusalemme take place around Easter; their central day is Martedì in Albis.

Remembrance and Reflective Travel Experiences

Another focal point is the remembrance of the Bellona massacre on 7 October 1943. The Mausoleo Ossario dei 54 martiri commemorates the victims. It was inaugurated on 7 October 1968 on the site of the former tuff quarry where the victims were killed. The ossuary can be reached via a staircase extending to a certain depth of the former quarry; marble plaques list the names of those who died. The Cappella di San Michele Arcangelo is also connected with the massacre. It has no architectural barriers and is therefore accessible to people with reduced mobility.

For travel planning with a religious or local cultural focus, the Cappellina Santella and its old painting of the Madonna delle Grazie are also worth considering. The chapel was opened for worship in 1870. The annual Maria SS. delle Grazie festival in Bellona takes place from 29 June to 2 July. These dates may play a role when choosing the travel period; outside such festival days, Bellona remains especially interesting for its historical and sacred heritage.

Triflisco and Other Destinations for Your Research

The municipality also includes Triflisco. Under Fulvius Flaccus, its springs were developed into Roman thermal baths; because the waters were considered beneficial, the Romans built several villas there on the hill. If you would like to compare Bellona with other destinations, you will also find Caserta, San Clemente, Presenzano, Villa Literno, Cesa, Carinola and Caianello Vecchio.

When searching for a hotel in Bellona, you can therefore make your choice primarily according to the type of trip you want: archaeology, church art, religious festivals or remembrance culture.

For the higher-level travel overview: Caserta.