Macchia Valfortore

Macchia Valfortore
Comune
Comune di Macchia Valfortore
Coat of arms
Macchia Valfortore Location of Macchia Valfortore in Italy
Coordinates: 41°36′N 14°55′E / 41.600°N 14.917°E / 41.600; 14.917Coordinates: 41°36′N 14°55′E / 41.600°N 14.917°E / 41.600; 14.917
Country	Italy
Region	Molise
Province	Campobasso (CB)
Government
• Mayor	Gianfranco Paolucci
Area
• Total	26.77 km2 (10.34 sq mi)
Elevation	477 m (1,565 ft)
Population (30 November 2017)
• Total	569
• Density	21/km2 (55/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Macchiaroli
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	86040
Dialing code	0874
Patron saint	St. Nicholas
Saint day	December 6
Website	Official website

Macchia Valfortore is a town and comune in the Province of Campobasso, Molise, southern Italy.

History

In 216 BC, a Roman army under consul Varro camped in the town called Maccla, thought to be this town, prior to marching to the defeat against Hannibal at the Battle of Cannae. In 476 AD with the Western Roman Empire weakening, Maccla was occupied by the Visigoths. In the early Middle Ages it was a possession of the Lombards, who held it until 982, when they were defeated by the Byzantines.

On September 21, 1701, Gaetano Giacomo Gambacorta, styled the Prince of Macchia, started a conspiracy (Macchia Conspiracy), against the Spanish viceroy in Naples. The revolt was quickly put down and Gaetano fled to Vienna, Austria where he died on January 27, 1703. In 1800 Joseph Bonaparte, King of Naples and Napoleon’s brother, divided Naples into new administrative orders. This created the Province of Campobasso which Macchia is located to this day. The suffix Valfortore was added in the 19th century.

Main sights

• Church of San Nicola: 16th century church with 12 busts of Saints made of wood created by Giacomo Colombus of Naples.
• Cinelli Palace
• Monument to the Fallen
• Monument of Padre Pio