Demonym(s) Vairanesi Local time Tuesday 12:52 AM Postal code 81058 | Elevation 168 m (551 ft) Area 43.7 km² Dialling code 0823 | |
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Frazioni Marzanello, Vairano Scalo Weather 11°C, Wind N at 11 km/h, 85% Humidity Points of interest Borgo Medievale Vairano Patenora, Castello Medievale di Vairano Patenora, Marzanello Vecchio | ||
Vairano Patenora is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Naples and about 35 kilometres (22 mi) northwest of Caserta.
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Map of Vairano Patenora, Province of Caserta, Italy
Geography
Vairano borders with the municipalities of Ailano, Caianello, Marzano Appio, Pietravairano, Pratella, Presenzano, Raviscanina, Riardo and Teano. Its frazioni are Marzanello and Vairano Scalo, in which is located the railway station.
History
The area of Variano has been inhabited for at least 700,000 years. Remains found on the hills of Vairano certify that primitive men lived in caves or in wooden huts.
One of the first civilizations was the Opici, followed by the Etruscans, the Samnites and the Sidicini. The Samnites built on our hills fortified cities, as we know from the remains visible on Montano, Caievola and Monteforte. In 290 BC the territory became under Roman control, and an old Roman bridge remains today in a place called Frattelle.
Between the 6th and the 9th centuries Lombards invaded Vairano and built a fortress which was used to defend themselves against Saracen and other invasions. In the 11th century, the Normans subdued the Lombards, and in 1191 emperor Herny VI of Hohenstaufen gave the castle to Roffredo dell’Isola, the abbot of Montecassino.
The fortress underwent several transformations and reconstructions during centuries: the most important was made by Innico II d'Avalos Cacciapuoti in the 16th century.
In 1590 Vairano and Marzanello were bought by Baron Mormile who turned the military fortress into a residential seat. Mormile owned Vairano until 1806.
Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II met in Vairano at Taverna della Catena to ratify the Unity of Italy.