Caiazzo: History, Olive-Growing Culture and Landscape in the Medio Volturno

Caiazzo combines impressive buildings, a complex past and the agriculturally shaped landscape of the Medio Volturno. The townscape features medieval and Baroque architecture alongside Roman traces; these are complemented by the Museo Kere, the local olive-growing culture, vineyards and views of hill ranges and the plain. The surrounding landscape areas extend from the Medio Volturno valley to the Caiazzo hills and the plain below Caiazzo.

15th-century Palazzo Mazziotti, Museo Kere and sacred architecture in Caiazzo

The castle dominates the town of Caiazzo and the Medio Volturno valley. Despite numerous alterations, Palazzo Mazziotti is an imposing 15th-century building. Archaeological evidence from the Samnite, Roman and medieval periods has been identified in Palazzo Mazziotti. Architectural evidence ranging from the Renaissance to the Baroque period is also represented there.

The Museo Kere, a covered ethnographic museum in Caiazzo, is located in Palazzo Mazziotti. The museum offers guided tours.

The Cathedral of Caiazzo is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and has origins dating back to before the 10th century.

Roman cistern and ancient walls; Il Formale in the Caiazzo hills

The Roman cistern of Caiazzo consists of two rectangular rooms aligned along a north-south axis. They are just under 21 metres long and 8 metres wide; both rooms have a 4.50-metre-high barrel vault. The cistern is therefore one of the tangible surviving historical traces of Caiazzo.

On the western side of Caiazzo, a well-preserved section of the ancient walls can also be seen: it is approximately 4.50 metres high, while the blocks used measure up to 1.20 × 1.20 metres.

Il Formale is classified as a national historic monument. The site is located in the Caiazzo hills, more precisely in San Giovanni e Paolo in the Il Formale district.

Local olive growing, vineyards and olive trees on the plain below Caiazzo

Caiazzo’s location offers views of the surrounding hill ranges and the plain below. This plain beneath Caiazzo is cultivated with vineyards and olive trees. The plain lies below the town and forms the agricultural part of this landscape area.

Caiazzo has belonged to the Associazione Nazionale Città dell’Olio since 1996, in order to protect and promote its focus on olive growing and oil production. The local olive-growing tradition includes the autochthonous Tifata Calatia variety, which is also known as Caiazzana.

Theatre and culture: the Jovinelli Festival throughout the year

The Jovinelli Festival was founded in 1997 in honour of Giuseppe Jovinelli. After several years on hiatus, it returned in 2003 and has since been organised almost continuously as a festival for theatre and culture in the area.

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To the higher-level travel overview: Caserta.