Sant'Agata de' Goti

The town occupies a spur of volcanic tuff between the Martorano and Riello streams, and buildings were raised directly on the rock edge, so from the valley the houses appear to grow out of a cliff on both flanks. The second part of the name is often taken to mean the Goths, but it was added in Norman times, after 1117, from the feudal lords of the Drengot family, known as De-Goth. The Ducal castle stands at one end, and the cathedral keeps a crypt with reused ancient columns. Alfonso Maria de' Liguori was bishop here in the eighteenth century. Streets inside are narrow and the plan is essentially linear along the ridge, ending in the churches at the far point.

History

The town stands on the site of the Samnite city of Saticula, where in 343 BC the Roman general Aulus Cornelius Cossus set up a winter camp. Under the Byzantines it became an important strategic centre, in the 6th century it passed to the Lombards as part of the Duchy of Benevento, and in 970 it became the seat of its own diocese (Wikipedia, Sant'Agata de' Goti).

What to look for

• The cliff edge - houses standing directly on the tuff face.
• The linear plan - one ridge street with lanes off it.
• The cathedral crypt - reused ancient columns beneath the church.
• The ducal castle - a fortified residence at the town's entrance.

When to go

April to October; the best views of the cliff are from the valley road below. Summer weekends bring day trippers. Winter is quiet with reduced opening.

What to expect

The town is small and walked in an hour. The cliff view requires driving to the valley below. Church hours are limited and irregular.

Nearby

Benevento lies east; Caserta is west.

Key facts