Borgo di Civita Superiore di Bojano

Civita Superiore is a historic hilltop quarter above Bojano, with the ruins of a Lombard-era castle and lanes that preserve the form of a fortified settlement. Its rocky spur overlooks the Bojano plain and the surrounding Matese mountains.

Why it matters

The hill has been associated with the citadel of ancient Samnite Bovaianom and later Roman Bovianum, though the precise identification rests on archaeological interpretation. In the early Middle Ages, settlement returned to the ridge as communities sought defensible positions. Civita Superiore became known as Rocca Boiano, a fortified centre above the town.

What to notice

The castle ruins comprise two rectangular structures on different levels, traditionally interpreted as the lord's residence and the walled castrum. Below them, narrow lanes, small squares and stone houses preserve the medieval urban plan. The hilltop position commands views over the plain and the surrounding ridges, explaining its strategic importance.

Context and history

The site was reoccupied in the ninth century during the Lombard period and later served as a seat of local counts under Frankish and Norman rule. Its castle and settlement were linked to Bojano's strategic role in the Matese region. The ruins and lanes preserve the layered history of a fortified community above the modern town.