Tocco Caudio

Infobox CityIT
official_name = Comune di Tocco Caudio
img_coa = Tocco_Caudio-Stemma.jpg
img_coa_small =

image_caption =
region = RegioneIT|sigla=CAM
province = ProvinciaIT (short form)|sigla=BN (BN)
mayor =
mayor_party =
elevation_footnotes = (Friuni)
elevation_m = 540
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 27.2
population_footnotes =
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 1593
pop_density_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 59
coordinates = coord|41|8|0|N|14|38|0|E|region:IT_type:city(1593)
gentilic = Tocchesi
telephone = 0824
postalcode = 82030
frazioni = Acquasanta, Arco Marucci, Aspro, Baracca, Capitino, Cesche, Chiano, Ciesco Coppole, Cornito, Folletta, Friuni , La Pietra, La Riola, Le Martine, Lotola, Maione Lunario, Maione Stingio, Monticella, Pantaniello, Paodone, Pisciariello, Pretola, Ripoli, S. Biagio, San Cosimo, San Gaudenzio, San Martino, Serra, Serratola, Sperara, Tasignano, Vigna, Vignali, Vocito, Tocco Vecchio.
saint = SS. Cosma e Damiano
day =

Tocco Caudio is the name of a village and "comune" in the province of Benevento, in the Campania region of southern Italy. The old town was abandoned after an earthquake in the 1980s.

Geography

As with many ancient towns in this mountainous region of southern Italy, Tocco Caudio was built on a promontory ridge. Tocco Caudio's ridge is fairly small and somewhat isolated. This arrangement made the town easily defensible, while having ready access to ridge-top roads along which a traveller would not need to cross any rivers. Also, as was typical with medieval development, the town is fairly compact with narrow streets.

In the 20th century the town layout, previously beneficial for the inhabitants, became a hindrance, as most of the core of Tocco Caudio was fairly inaccessible to automobiles. After going up a short, steep hill, one could drive a car only along one part of the main street. In other towns in the region, Guardia Sanframondi being a good example, many houses and shops in the old town areas are now vacant due to their inconvenience. Many new homes tend to be built around the old town centers, as there is no need to stay within the old defensive walls.

The village is bordered by Bonea, Bucciano, Campoli del Monte Taburno, Cautano, Frasso Telesino, Moiano, Montesarchio and Sant'Agata de' Goti.

History

In the 1980s, an earthquake damaged much of the old center of Tocco Caudio. Rather than rebuild the historic town, the citizens decided to completely abandon it, and resettle around the ridge. Today there are essentially two Tocco Caudios: an abandoned old town, and a new town below it.

Anything of value from the historic center was salvaged, and today it is a ghost town. Most buildings are derelict; the church has lost its roof, although the brick belltower is in fairly good condition.

Notes and references

External links