Larino is a town (it. comune) of approximately 7,080 inhabitants in the Italian Region of Molise, province of Campobasso. It is located in the fertile Biferno Valley. Molise is a region of southern Italy, the second smallest of the regions. ... Campobasso is a town and province in Molise, Italy. ...

An aerial view of the city. Seen from above, its wing-like shape is obvious.

The old town, seen from the mountains, is shaped like a bird's wing. The new town, called Piano San Leonardo, is built on a mountainside. The new area is expensive, with large houses and new construction. http://www. ... http://www. ...

History

Larino's Coat of Arms. The wing represents the city's peculiar shape.

The city of Larino has been continuously inhabited for millennia. Originally settled by the Samnite and Frentani tribes of Southern Italy, the city came under the control of the Oscan civilization. In 217 BCE, the Romans defeated Hannibal here, and it was later incorporated into the Roman Empire, where it was classified as a municipium, and added to the Secunda Regio (Apulia). The modern city was built in 1300, after the old one, less than 1 mile away, was destroyed in an earthquake after having repeatedly sacked by the Saraceans. The old Roman city of Larinum, from which Larino grew, was situated along the main road to the South-East, which started on the coast in Histonium (Vasto), and ran from Larinum eastward to Sipontum. The main road also branched off at Larinum into a secondary road to Bovianum Vetus. In 1656, a plague nearly wiped out the city; thousands died. The 373 survivors were prepared to abandon the settlement, but through the vigorous efforts of then Bishop Giuseppe Catalano, they were convinced to stay, and the city grew and thrived once again. Larino Coat of Arms. ... Larino Coat of Arms. ... Samnite warriors Samnium (Oscan Safinim) was a region of the southern Apennines in Italy that was home to the Samnites, a group of Sabellic tribes that controlled the area from about 600 BC to about 290 BC. Samnium was delimited by Latium in the north, by Lucania in the south... Hannibals feat in crossing the Alps with war elephants passed into European legend: a fresco detail, 1510, Capitoline Museum, Rome Hannibal (from Punic, literally Baal is merciful to me, 247 BC – 182 BC) was a politician, statesman and military commander of ancient Carthage, best known for his achievements in... The Roman Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Ancient Roman polity in the centuries following its reorganization under the leadership of Octavian (better known as Caesar Augustus). ...

The city gave birth to three saints: Primiano, Firmiano, and Casto, although the city’s patron and most celebrated saint is San Pardo, a native of Greece. Cluentius, a client of Cicero, who delivered a speech in his favour, was also born in Larinum. A transcript of the trial, Pro Cluentio, gives a revealing image of life in Larino six decades before the birth of Christ. Caesar wrote about the city in his account of the Social Wars, and Alexandre Dumas described the festival of San Pardo so vividly in his writings (A Bloody Reign) that he must have seen it during his travels to Italy. The Social War (also called the Italian War) was a war from 91 - 88 BC between the Romans and the other cities in Italy. ... Alexandre Dumas redirects here. ...

Architecture

Formerly the residence of rich nobility, the Palazzo now serves as the City Hall.

The old town includes important monuments, such as a fountain, now in disrepair, and the Duomo di Larino, made a minor basilica in 1928 by Pius XI, which is considered by some to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Italy. It was built in the tenth and eleventh centuries and inaugurated in 1319. It was added onto and renovated many times, with the addition of a gothic arch in 1451, a belltower in 1523 and interior renovations in the 1700's. It was declared a national heritage site for its gothic façade and famous rose window, as well as its austere interior, which houses great treasures such as the silver bust of Saint Pardo. Ducal palace of Larino, Campobasso, Molise File links The following pages link to this file: Larino ... Ducal palace of Larino, Campobasso, Molise File links The following pages link to this file: Larino ... The Basilica of St. ... Pius XI (born Achille Ratti May 31, 1857 - Rome, February 10, 1939) was Pope from February 6, 1922 until February 10, 1939. ... The rose window in Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England, at the western end of the nave. ...

The historic Cathedral of San Pardo is a prime example of gothic architecture in Italy.

There are four other churches in the city; San Francesco, San Stefano, and Santa Maria della Pietà, in the old town, and Chiesa dei Santi Martiri, built in the 1960's in the new town. Other important sites are the old Palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace), which has relinquished its function as town hall to a newly renovated and beautifully designed former jail,and a notable ancient roman archeological site containing an amphitheater and forum belonging to the ancient site of Larinum, from which the modern-day town developed. Close-up of Cattedrale San Pardo, Larino, Campobasso, Molise, Italy File links The following pages link to this file: Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates Larino Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/San Pardo Categories: Wikipedia featured picture candidates | GFDL images ... Close-up of Cattedrale San Pardo, Larino, Campobasso, Molise, Italy File links The following pages link to this file: Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates Larino Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/San Pardo Categories: Wikipedia featured picture candidates | GFDL images ... The name amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is given to a public building of the Classical period (being particularly associated with ancient Rome) which was used for spectator sports, games and displays. ... Look up Forum in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Forum (plural fora or forums) is a public meeting place for discussion or lecture. ...

The contrast between the new and old areas is vast. In the historic city, the houses are built of stone, and are one to three storeys, at most. The newer houses are designed in a modern style, and were built mostly in the 60’s and 70’s, although construction and expansion continues to this day.

Culture

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pietà, another of the city's four distinctive churches.

The city has many fairs and festivals, notably those of San Primiano and of San Pardo. These include parties and religious processions. Traditional recipes of the town include La Pigna Larinese (a type of cake) and Taralli Con L'Uovo (egg taralli). It also has its own cultivar of olive, known as the Gentile di Larino, which is highly prized for its oil. Download high resolution version (520x777, 70 KB)Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pieta, Larino, Campobasso, Molise File links The following pages link to this file: Larino ... Download high resolution version (520x777, 70 KB)Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pieta, Larino, Campobasso, Molise File links The following pages link to this file: Larino ...

The city faced a large exodus during the 1950-60's due to the extreme poverty of the Molise region, and there is a large community of Larinesi living abroad, as well as their first- and second-generation descendants. Immigrants from Larino to Montreal built a church in Little Italy called Chiesa della Madonna della Difesa. Main article: History of Montreal Algonquin, Huron, and Iroquois have inhabited the Montreal area for some eight thousand years. ... Little Italy is a general name for an ethnic enclave populated (or formerly populated) primarily by Italians. ... The Church of the Madonna della Difesa (it: Chiesa della Madonna della Difesa, fr: Église de Notre-Dame-de-la-Défense) is a church in Montreals Little Italy was built by Italian immigrant to Montreal, specifically those from Molise, to commemorate the apparition of the Madonna in La...

After the recent earthquakes in the Molise, old Larino is being reborn. Citizens whose houses had been damaged by the quake could apply for public funding. As a result scores of houses and public buildings are being restored to their former beauty. One example is the exterior Palazzo Ducale which is repainted as it was decades ago. The exterior walls are alternating panels of whitish grey and charcoal black. The upper levels, surrounding the stone windows are a combination of pink and cream. The top level, overlooking what used to be a large terrace, is faced in sunflower yellow. If you look closely at the structure you can see the ancient centre which may have been constructed as a Norman castle. Later the building became Albergo Moderno (the Modern Hotel). That, too, is now abandoned.

The church of San Francisco has been resurfaced in a beautiful coral.

The Campanile of the Convent (1312) may once have been a defensive tower.

The "Galuppi Tower", across from the Cathedral, has been strengthened by large square metallic plates. The tower, which was part of the old town's defenses, was the campanile (bell tower) of a now abandoned convent. Image File history File links An image owned by contributor File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links An image owned by contributor File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

On Via Cluenzo (named after the young man defended by the orator, Cicero) features a number of beautifully restored private homes. The exterior walls, all approved by the town, are in light blues, creams, and ochres. The old jail has been transformed into a municipal centre of great beauty.

The Bishop's Palace, beside the cathedral, has also been renovated and sculptors were brought from the Louvre to repair the magnificent cathedral entry way.

During the Second World War the radio reported that Larino had been totally destroyed in a bombardment. While it was true that the Allies and the Germans were in the vicinity of the town, hostility was avoided and the town was preserved.

Recently, more and more expatriates have begun returning to Larino to purchase vacation homes. Termoli, a resort town on the Adriatic, is only 15 minutes away via a near-trafficless autoroute.

In the summer there seems to be an endless series of festivals. May 25-27 of each year is dedicated to the Festival of San Pardo. In 2005, there were over 110 carts festooned with hand-made flowers. Each wagon is pulled by two white oxen. A procession moves from the historic centre and the cathedral to the cemetary and the old church which dates from the earliest days of the Christian era. It is at once a religious event, a historic event, and a family celebration. Each cart belongs to a particular family, and the cart's position in the procession is a sign of social standing. The entire event is choreographed with great precision.

External Links

• Comune Larino
• Larino Online
• Larino Web
• Festival of San Pardo photo gallery