Vicalvi Italy History
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Vicalvi, Italy History Download from Internet site www.flashnet.it and translated: Castled on high ground that dominates the Western end of the Valley of Comino, Vicalvi is an ancient center of Samnite origin. Ancient Cominium has been recorded at some length, but the research on more recent history in the Comino Valley is lacking. Following Roman occupation, Vicalvi was dominated by the Longobardi until 856, under whose rule the Abbey of Montecassino was built, about 30 km South of Vicalvi. Vicalvi is built on a rock outcropping, its profile dominated by the imposing massive structure of the longobardo castle of the XII century. In the XVI century, during the war for dominance of the Italian peninsula, this impregnable fortress housed the troops of emperor Charles V during battle against Francis, the king of France. Its name derives from "Vicus Albus" that is white village, for the characteristic shade of its native sand. from "North of Naples, South of Rome"; by Paolo Tullio: The Comino Valley takes its name from the battle of Cominium, described by Livy in Book X if his history of Rome. The Romans had begun their push Southward and found themselves in conflict with the Samnites, whose territory included the valley. The Romans initially suffered one of their most humiliating defeats at the hands of the Samnites at the Caudine Forks and were forced to sign a treaty. For thirty years it rankled, until, under the pretext that the consuls had no right to sign the peace treaty, the Romans once more went to war with the Samnites, and this time won, establishing hegemony over most of southern Italy. The battle of Cominium was one of the first defeats for the Samnites. Livy puts it at twelve leagues from Atina, but since this is the only geographical information he gives, the site of Cominium is not clear. Accepted wisdom puts the site at Vicalvi, the small promintory which dominates the western end of the valley. 
From Ciociaria Turismo: "Vicus Albus" (that is mountain village, from the Indo-European term "alb" meaning mountain-like) it is a place not lost on historians for its wealth of culture. Originally it was surrounded by a double city wall, protected by many pits, considered important in this valley for its strategic profile. It was dominated by the Longobardi until 856, the date on which they took possession of the Abbey of Montecassino. Its profile is dominated by the imposing massive structure of the Longobardo castle (XII century) constituted of two towers and a full plaza, surrounded by tall walls and elevated as the dominant element in its own Civic coat of arms. In the XVI century, in this formidable fortress, the troops of the emperor Charles V retired, during the war for the dominance of Italy against Francis I, the king of France. The Baronal Palace is beautiful and important with an attached chapel devoted to the Immaculate Conception (XV-XVI centuries), formerly occupied by the Count of Alvito. The most ancient building of the village is the church of St. Nicandro with an artistic portal and two sides windows in Gothic style. In the church of Saint Antonio Abbot, now abandoned, except during the festival of the Saint (17 January), when an altar of sculpted stone is prepared and surmounted by a crucifix painted in fresco. 
From the Official Site: "16 Mountain Communities of Val di Comino": Sited at 600 meters above mean sea level, Vicalvi is an ancient Samnium center, called Vicus Albae by the Romans. The presence of defensive walls of the first order has assured the survival of this small village in the Comino Valley, heir to the famous and mysterious Cominium. At the moment, however, this deduction is at odds with other studies that would place the center of the Romano-Samnite Wars in the actual territories of Alvito and S. Donato. At the double rim of the walls noted were added, in the Middle Ages, the wall of the castle, mighty Longobardo construction, center of Castaldato and of Contea, that results, still today, in good condition and with which Vicalvi appears to dominate a part from Valley of Comino. If it is remembered that Vicalvi was the center of a sanctuary devoted to Ercole, spiritual protector of the Appennini shepherds, then to emphaisze the punishment, beside the Town Center, are visible the Roman Metopetardo, on which the crested helmet stands out. Besides, in an ideal historical-artistic itinerary, the important baronial palace is set with attached chapel devoted to the Immaculate Conception and, above all, the famous Convent of St. Francesco, destination of numerous wanderings. Neighboring this is found a church in which an ancient Crucifix is revered.
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