Casacalenda

Casacalenda is a municipality in the region of Molise in the province of Campobasso with 2181 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012).

History

The establishment of Casacalenda dates back to the 5th century BC. The town gained importance during the Second Punic War. In antiquity it bore the name KELENE. Although this city was important in the Roman period, notes are hardly known about their subsequent history, except for a few documents relating to their lords. From the Baron List of King William II, we see that the castle in 1175 was owned by Giuliano di Castropignano. Later the castle was owned by Giordano Siracusa ( Siracusa family ) " Jordanus de Siracusa miles tenet castra Casakalendae & Sancti Martini in terra laboris ". His widow Matthea de Casalchilenda 1324 sold the castle to Riccardo Caracciolo di Capua. Later, the castle passed to the Dukes of Sangro. During the Second World War, there was a concentration camp for female Jews and anti-fascists.