Located halfway between Solopaca and Dugenta, Melizzano is located in a hilly area and "lies" on the tuff ridge, overlooking the "Bad weather", tributary of the Heat. The village is located 190 m above sea level, and has about 2000 inhabitants. Melizzano is remembered for the first time by Tito Livio when the consul Fabio, during the Hannibal war, to take back the cities that had passed to the enemy, he headed towards Sannio. 

"The land of Caudius in Samnium was most violently devastated; the fields were set on fire far and wide; the towns of Compulteria, Telesia, Compsa, Melae, Fagifula and Orbitanio were taken by force" (Livio, XXIV, 20). Melizzano appears clearly when on June 1st 1421 Queen Giovanna II gives the County of S. Agata dei Goti and the Baronia di Tocco, the castles of Durazzano, Limatola, Melizzano, Bagnoli and Valle di Maddaloni, confiscated from Baldassarre della Ratta and already owned by Carlo Artus and Onorato I Caetani (Caetani, Reg. Chart. IV, pp. 5-11).

However Count Giovanni della Ratta, son of Baldassarre, young handsome and handsome in appearance, valiant knight, designated by King Alfonso I of Aragon to accompany in 1452 the emperor of Germany Frederick III and his wife in the feasts given to the two rulers in Naples, for services rendered to King Alfonso manages to inherit lands and fiefs confiscated from his father (Experts , Mem. Ist., p.248). In fact it was on the occasion of his marriage with Anna Orsini that King Alfonso granted him the lands and fiefdoms that belonged to his father (Index of Treasury Coupons, now destroyed, Arch.st. Naples, f. 39). After the death of Count Giovanni in August 1457, his son Francesco, having had his cousin Giacomo della Ratta, Archbishop of Benevento, as King Ferdinado, had reconfirmed his possessions and paternal titles on 18 July 1458, including the fiefs of Limatola, Dugenta and the castles of Frasso and Melizzano (Ricca E., Ist. Dei Feudi, p. 624 - Fonti Aragonesi XII p. 95).

It is reached on 26 March 1506 when Caterina della Ratta had confirmed by King Ferdinando the Catholic the possessions of the ancestors, including the fiefs of Limatola, Dugenta, Frasso and Melizzano (Minieri Riccio, from the Repertoire of Terra di Lavoro, in Arch. Di Stato of Naples, issue III, 1893/4, p.677-8). A few years later these possessions were inherited by Francesco Gambacorta who in 1510 married Caterina della Ratta, niece of Countess Caterina Melizzano has a hamlet, the Torello, whose name derives from the "Turielli"two watchtowers that were located on two hills guarding the access road to the mountains of Taburno, in the Lombard period.

The historical part is characterized by the presence of the remains of what was the ancient Church, which also had the function, in the basement, of a cemetery. In the Church itself, there was also a convent. The other most ancient and characteristic town is the Starza , also dating back to the Lombard period (in fact the Lombards used to divide the city into "starze"). The existence of other religious centers is witnessed by the Benedictine olive groves that characterize the hills, the area of S.Spirito, where there was an abbey, the chapel in Valle Corrado, and the Sanctuary of Madonna della Libera, which houses the statue of the same name, eighteenth-century. Characteristic structures of the town center are the Church of SS Pietro e Paolo, the castle belonging to the Caracciolo D'Aquara, the fountain and some noble palaces belonging to ancient families of the country.

THE CHURCH SS PIETRO E PAOLO The area of Melizzano was inhabited since the Samnite age as evidenced by the necropolis found. In the Middle Ages, considering of doubtful identification a quotation from the Lombard age, the first sure reference is in the Norman "Catalogus baronum" (1150 circa). But there is no mention of the church of St. Peter either in this or in subsequent documents for which the origins of the church remain obscure. Indirectly, due to the presence of the town and the titration, it can be assumed that it was founded in the twelfth century. The list of archpriests has been documented since 1388.

It is believed that the present church was built in 1742, under the parish priest Mancino. The building probably replaced a pre-existing church (destroyed by the great earthquake of Cerreto, 1688) of which remains the small side portal in limestone, of fifteenth-century appearance but with the date AD 1881. In reduced forms and with solutions of less decorative richness, the steps of the churchyard and the geometry of the facade recall the corresponding elements of the Collegiate Church of San Martino di Cerreto Sannita (1728-30). A pair of double pilasters on each side delimit the façade; they are surmounted by as many pinnacles.

Two simple pilasters frame the simple portal; the second level, finished by a triangular tympanum, is connected to the first thanks to two curved concave profiles. Two mixed oculi (at the bottom, on the side portals) and a rectangular window give light inside, with three naves, divided by pillars that support barrel vaults. The walls of the naves, of the numerous side chapels and the vaults are richly decorated with eighteenth-century stuccoes of various and valuable design, probably commissioned by the barons Bellucci (coat of arms of the triumphal arch of the presbytery). Among the few works of art that survived the dispersion are the baptismal font, the stoups (in red breach) and the tombstones.

The bell tower is of the early twentieth century. The church, eighteenth century, has a Latin cross structure, with three naves. At its original realization, famous artists collaborated, renowned for having participated in the construction of the palace of Caserta. Inside, there are the coats of arms of the above families, namely the Bellucci (whose coat of arms is the turreted elephant), the families Meoli, De Cicco, Boscia. The famous artist D'Onofrio contributed to the creation of a painting of the Church itself. It was last restored in 1949, following the destruction of World War II. CARACCIOLO CASTLE Among the most prestigious monuments in the historic center of Melizzano, you can admire the Castle, currently owned by the Caracciolo D'Aquara family.

Its origins date back to the sixteenth century. Owned by the princes of Conca, later passed to Bartolomeo Corsi. Finally, Duke Lucio Caracciolo D'Aquara inherited it on the death of his uncle, Baron Meoli del Torello. Pirandello wrote numerous stories in the castle of Melizzano and Eduardo De Filippo set one of his most successful comedies "De pretore Vincenzo". It boasts a monumental facade made with gray tuff extracted from the quarries of the territory. The Castle, with two floors, is characterized by elegant hanging arches and the crowning with dovetail battlements. The ground floor is connected to the noble one by a sumptuous staircase, screened by a perforated balustrade with Romanesque and sixteenth century ornamental motifs.

After the architectural interventions of the XVIII century, the castle acquired the definitive function of a country residence. The large interior rooms retain all the appearance of castles of the time, with a strong defense setting and battlements and fortified towers. The Castle houses a fine Parian marble herma, dating back to the first decades of the first century AD; The Caracciolo family also has a small manor house in Torello di Melizzano, which has prestigious rooms, a well-kept garden and a beautiful swimming pool. The rooms show on the walls paintings and prints of the '600, tapestries and thirst of San Leucio.

IL DUCA LUCIO CARACCIOLO Born in Lucera on 30 May 1898, second son of Duke Vincenzo and Duchess Ottavia Spinelli. After studying humanities, he graduated first in Law and then in Literature and Political Science. At a very young age he moved to Rome, where he began his journalistic career. At the age of 27 he was called to Rovigo to direct the Corriere del Polesine, receiving numerous commendations as the youngest director of the magazine. He was sent for several days to Egypt, Latin America, Cuba and Russia, where he was arrested and held for a long time. On his return he wrote Isola Rossa and subsequently published several other books. In Rome it frequents the flower of the world of culture and industry. In 1934 he married Beatrice Piromallo Capece and was invited by his uncle Baron Vincenzo Meoli of Melizzano. At his death the Castle of Melizzano, where Pirandello wrote many stories and Eduardo De Filippo set one of his most successful comedies "De pretore Vincenzo"; Always in the castle, Roberto Rossellini shot many scenes of the film Viva l'Italia.

Melizzano that the young Lucio met late and that at first seemed an exile, played a role of primary importance in his life: it was there that he wanted to be born his three children and there, between one trip and another, he loved to retire to write and meditate and host his friends. Although he did not have a good idea of politics, for a time he also held the office of podestà of Melizzano. Among his passions there were, in addition to writing, languages (he spoke seven) music, cinema. For about twenty years he continued to write for IL MATTINO and IL ROMA, also collaborating with several weeklies. He died in Rome on 26 February 1963, following a simple surgical operation.