Editing Isernia

{{for|the beetle genus|Aesernia (genus)}}
{{Infobox Italian comune
| name                = Isernia
| official_name       = Città di Isernia
| native_name         = {{lang|nap|Sèrnia}}
| image_skyline       = Collage Isernia.jpg
| imagesize           = 
| image_alt           = 
|image_flag=Flag of Isernia.svg| image_caption       = Top left: Landscape of Isernia, Top right: "Corso Marcelli" Street, Bottom left: Fontana Fraterna, Bottom right: "San Pietro" Cathedral
| image_shield        = Isernia-Stemma.svg
| shield_alt          = 
| image_map           = 
| map_alt             = 
| map_caption         = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt     = 
| coordinates         = {{coord|41|36|10|N|14|14|23|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| region              = [[Molise]]
| province            = [[Province of Isernia|Isernia]] (IS)
| frazioni            = Acquazolfa, Bazzoffie, Breccelle, Capruccia, Castagna, Castelromano, Colle de' Cioffi, Colle Martino, Colle Pagano, Collecroci, Conocchia, Coppolicchio, Fragnete, Marini, Salietto, Valgianese
| mayor_party         = [[Centre-left politics]]
| mayor               = [[:it:Piero Castrataro|Piero Castrataro]]
| area_footnotes      = 
| area_total_km2      = 68.74
| population_footnotes = <ref>Population data from [[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|Istat]]</ref>
| population_total    = 20863
| population_as_of    = 31 September 2021
| pop_density_footnotes = 
| population_demonym  = Isernini
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m         = 423
| twin1               = 
| twin1_country       = 
|istat=| saint               = [[Pope Celestine V]]
| day                 = May 19
| postal_code         = 86170
| area_code           = 0865
| website             = {{official website|http://www.comune.isernia.it}}
| footnotes           = 
}}

'''Isernia''' ({{IPA|it|iˈzɛrnja|-|It-Isernia.ogg}}){{efn|{{langx|la|Aesernia}} or, in [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] and later writers, ''Eserninus'', or in the [[Antonine Itinerary]], ''Serni''.}} is a town and ''[[comune]]'' in the [[southern Italy|southern Italian]] region of [[Molise]], and the capital of the [[province of Isernia]].

==Geography==
Situated on a rocky crest rising from {{convert|350|to|475|m|ft}} between the [[Carpino]] and the [[Sordo]] rivers, the plan of Isernia still reflects the ancient layout of the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] town, with a central wide street, the ''[[cardo maximus]]'', still represented by Corso Marcelli, and side streets at right angles on both sides.

The comune of Isernia includes 16 [[frazione|frazioni]]. The most densely populated is Castelromano which is positioned in a plain at the base of the La Romana mount, elevation {{convert|862|m|ft}}, {{convert|5|km|mi|0}} from Isernia.

==History==
The area of Isernia was settled at least 70 000 years ago:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archeologicamolise.beniculturali.it/index.php?en/170/isernia-archaeological-museum|title = Home}}</ref> the nearby site called ''Pineta'' has been cited in the magazine ''[[Science (magazine)|Science]]'' as the most ancient site where traces of use of fire by humans have been found.

The city's Roman name, '''''Aesernia''''', reflects probably a former [[Samnium|Samnite]] toponym, but a connection to an [[Proto-Indo-European language|Indo-European]] root, ''aeser'', which means "water", is tenuous.
[[File:Fontana Fraterna (Isernia).JPG|thumb|left|Fontana Fraterna]]
Classical Aesernia was a city of [[Samnium]], included within the territory of the [[Pentri]] tribe, situated in the valley of the Vulturnus (modern [[Volturno]]), on a small stream flowing into that river, and distant {{convert|22|km|mi}} from Venafrum (modern [[Venafro]]). The Itinerary (in which the name is written "Serni") places it on the road from [[Aufidena]] to [[Bovianum Undecumanorum|Bovianum]], at the distance of {{convert|28|mi|km|disp=flip}} from the former, and {{convert|18|mi|km|disp=flip}} from the latter; but the former number is corrupt, as are the distances in the ''[[Tabula Peutingeriana]]''.<ref>Itin. Ant. p. 102; Tab. Peut.; Plin. iii. 12. 17; [[Ptolemy]] iii. 1. § 67; [[Silius Italicus]] viii. 568.</ref>

The first mention of it in history occurs in 295 BC, at which time it had already fallen into the hands of the Romans, together with the whole valley of the Vulturnus.<ref>[[Livy]] x. 31.</ref> After the complete subjugation of the [[Samnites]], a colony, with Latin rights ([[colonia Latina]]) was settled there by the Romans in 264 BC the city, a key communication center between southern Italy and the inner {{lang|it|Appennine}} Regions. This colony is again mentioned in 209 BC as one of the eighteen which remained faithful to Rome at the most trying period of the [[Second Punic War]].<ref>Livy ''Epit.'' xvi. xxvii. 10; [[Velleius Paterculus]] i. 14.</ref> During the [[Social War (91–88 BC)|Social War]] it adhered to the Roman cause, and was gallantly defended against the Samnite general [[Vettius Scato]], by [[Marcus Claudius Marcellus]], nor was it till after a long protracted siege that it was compelled by famine to surrender, 90 BC. Henceforth it continued in the hands of the confederates; and at a later period of the contest afforded a shelter to the Samnite leader, [[Gaius Papius Mutilus]], after his defeat by [[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]]. It even became for a time, after the successive fall of Corfinium (modern [[Corfinio]]) and Bovianum, the headquarters of the [[Social_War_(91-88_BC)#War|Italic League]].<ref>Liv. ''Epit.'' lxxii, lxxiii.; [[Appian]] ''B.C.'' i. 41, 51; [[Diodorus|Diod.]] xxxvii. Exc. Phot. p. 539; Sisenna ap. Nonium, p. 70.</ref> At this time it was evidently a place of importance and a strong fortress, but it was so severely punished for its defection by Sulla after the final defeat of the Samnites in 88 BC, that [[Strabo]] speaks of it as in his time utterly deserted.<ref>Strabo v. p. 238, 250.</ref>

We learn, however, that a colony was sent there by [[Julius Caesar]], and again by [[Augustus]]; but apparently with little success, on which account it was recolonized under [[Nero]]. It never, however, enjoyed the rank of a colony, but appears from inscriptions to have been a municipal town of some importance in the time of [[Trajan]] and the [[Antonines]]. To this period belong the remains of an [[Roman aqueduct|aqueduct]] and a fine Roman bridge, still visible; while the lower parts of the modern walls present considerable portions of polygonal construction, which may be assigned either to the ancient Samnite city, or to the first Roman colony. The modern city is still the [[episcopal see|see of a bishop]].<ref>''Lib. Colon.'' pp. 233, 260; [[August Wilhelm Zumpt]], ''de Coloniis'', pp. 307, 360, 392; Inscrr. ap. Romanelli, vol. ii. pp. 470, 471; [[Keppel Richard Craven]], ''Abruzzi'', vol. ii. p. 83; [[Sir Richard Hoare, 2nd Baronet|Richard Hoare]], ''Classical Tour'', vol. i. p. 227.)</ref> The massively constructed podium now underlying the [[Isernia Cathedral|cathedral]] probably supported the Capitolium.

In the early 7th century AD, what are today the comuni of Isernia as well as [[Bojano]] and [[Sepino]] were the places where [[Grimoald I of Benevento]] settled a group of Bulgars, seeking refuge from the Avars; the Bulgars were for many generations a distinctive part of the population, until finally assimilated in their Italian environment (see [[Bulgarians in Italy]], [[Old Great Bulgaria#Bulgars in Southern Italy]]).

Even after the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], Isernia has suffered destruction numerous times in history. Isernia was destroyed by the [[Saracens]] in 800, sacked by [[Markward of Anweiler]], Count of Molise, in 1199, and set on fire in 1223 by the soldiers of [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]]. In 1519 it was freed from feudal servitude by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]] and became a city in the [[Kingdom of Naples]].

Earthquakes in 847, 1349, [[1456 Central Italy earthquakes|1456]] and [[1805 Molise earthquake|1805]] caused massive destruction.

During the era of [[Fascist Italy]], Isernia was the site of a small fascist internment camp administered and operated by the [[province of Campobasso]].  The camp was located in a former Benedictine convent and was said to hold mostly Italians, with a small number of foreigners, including Slavs, Frenchmen, Germans, Romanians, and people from England, Poland, Hungary, Albania, and Syria. Internees were categorized as "dangerous Italians", "enemy subjects", "foreign Jews", and "former Yugoslav" citizens.  Some of the prisoners were killed during the 1943 allied bombing raid.<ref name="cap">{{cite book|last=Capogreco|first=Carlo Spartaco|title=Mussolini's Camps: Civilian Internment in Fascist Italy (1940-1943)|chapter=Topography and history of the camps (1940–1943)|translator-first1=Norma|translator-last1=Bouchard|translator-first2=Valerio|translator-last2=Ferme|date=2020|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9780429821004|oclc=1243340722|pages=93, 106, 178-189}}</ref>

On the morning of September 10, 1943, during [[World War II]], [[United States|American]] planes launched their bombs from [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] planes over a crowded town on market day causing thousands of deaths.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} In the following weeks they came back twelve times without ever hitting their targets: the bridges of Isernia, Cardarelli and Santo Spirito, then built entirely of iron, towards the internal area. All the bridges were vital to the [[Nazi Germany|German]] retreat.

In 1970 Isernia became the capital of the province of the same name, created out of part of the [[province of Campobasso]].

==Economy==
The hills around Isernia produces red, white and [[Rose (wine)|rose]] ''Pentro di Isernia'', an [[Italian DOC wine]]. The grapes are limited to [[harvest (wine)|harvest]] yields of 11 tonnes/ha with the finished red and ''rose'' wines needing a minimum alcohol level of 11% and the finished whites required to have at least 10.5% alcohol. The reds and ''roses'' are composed of 45-55% [[Montepulciano (grape)|Montepulciano]], 45-55% [[Sangiovese]] and up to 10% local [[grape varieties]] to fill out the blend if needed. The whites are composed of 60-70% [[Trebbiano]], 30-40% [[Bombino bianco]] and up to 10% local varieties to fill out the blend if needed.<ref>P. Saunders ''Wine Label Language'' pg 190 Firefly Books 2004 {{ISBN|1-55297-720-X}}</ref>

==Coinage==
The coins of Aesernia, which are found only in copper, and have the legend "AISERNINO", belong to the period of the first Roman colony; the style of their execution attests the influence of the neighboring [[Campania]].<ref>[[James Millingen]], ''Numismatique de l'Italie'', p. 218.</ref>

==Government==
{{See also|List of mayors of Isernia}}

==Main sights==
[[File:Ponte Cardarelli (Isernia).JPG|thumb|right|Cardarelli Stone Bridge.]]
[[File:Isernia arco s.pietro.jpg|thumb|upright|right|San Pietro Arch.]]
Although having suffered repeated destruction, Isernia preserves a large number of archaeological remains. The historical center still keeps intact the spare map structure of the Roman cities: in fact it represents the largest raced Marcelli street, around which there is an infinity of alleys and little spares, as for example, "Trento e Trieste" spares. The famous Fraterna Fountain,  the town's main symbol, was built in the 13th century: it is made up of living stone's slabs coming from ruined Roman monuments, while all the rest is a work of local masters, commissioned by the Rampini family of Isernia.
=== Religious sites ===
*[[Isernia Cathedral|Isernia Cathedral of San Pietro]]
*Santa Maria delle Monache
*San Francesco
*[[Santa Chiara, Isernia|Santa Chiara]]
*[[Santi Cosma e Damiano, Isernia|Santi Cosma e Damiano]]
*Chiesa della Concezione
*San Pietro Celestino
*San Giuseppe lavoratore
*Santa Maria Assunta

===''Fontana Fraterna''===

The “Fontana Fraterna” is a refined public fountain with six water jets, with an unusual arcade-shape, made of blocks of calcareous, compact stone. It is built of Roman and Romanesque materials, and had been restored in 1835.

The fountain has articulated into three fillets laid one upon the other. From below, there is a series of smooth fillets (the one on the left is a Roman-epoch and fragmentary epigraph with the letters AE PONT, while in the centre there is a mat decorated with dolphins and a Roman-age flower, probably coming from a sepulchral building), then there is a median fillet with a series of six round arches supported, on the left side, by little circular columns and on the right side, by little octagonal columns.

Above these columns there are some capitals of re-employment. Two capitals have trapezoidal-plant abacus and perhaps adorned a window splay. The higher fillet presents a line of smooth ashlars on which twelve little hanging arches set, supported by little brackets adorned with zoomorphic, phytomorphic and geometric motives. On the bottom of the fountain, on a second level in respect to the arcade, you can distinguish two blocks of Roman age with some swags and a funerary epigraph dedicated to the god Mani. On its right side there is a third high-mediaeval epigraph, situated between two lion statues, referring to the building of a fountain. A deep study of the surfaces allows to verify that the blocks were worked on several occasions, with an extremely long interval, and that come from an undefined number of buildings of the town. Therefore, the handiwork represents an interesting abacus of workings, decorative elements, an exemplar of material culture with centuries of town history written on.

===La Pineta===
Isernia La Pineta is an archaeological [[Excavation (archaeology)|excavation site]] containing thousands of bones and stone tools covering {{convert|20000|m2|acre}}.  It was discovered in 1979, by an amateur naturalist who noticed a bone sticking out of the side of a cut that had been created by the construction of the [[Napoli-Vasto motorway]]. The site was clearly created by humans, but its purpose is still unknown.<ref name="novaresio14">Novaresio, Paolo (1996). ''The Explorers''. Stewart, Tabori & Chang, NY {{ISBN|1-55670-495-X}} p. 14 "In 1979 an amateur naturalist was passing the construction site for the Napoli-Vasto motorway ... object protruding from a wall ... thousands of bones and stone tools piled up in an area of over 24,000 square yards.  ... Evidence of human activity is incontrovertible"</ref>

==See also==
*[[F.C. Isernia]]
*[[Coinage of Aesernia]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

===Footnotes===
{{notelist}}

==References==
*{{SmithDGRG}}
*[http://icarus.umkc.edu/sandbox/perseus/pecs/page.72.a.php Richard Stillwell, ed. ''Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites'', 1976:] Aesernia (Isernia), Abruzzi e Molise, Italy"

==External links==
{{commons category|Isernia}}
*[http://www.comune.isernia.it Isernia official website]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20210227091658/http://molisediscovery.com/ molisediscovery.com]}}

{{Province of Isernia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Isernia| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Molise]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Molise]]
[[Category:Samnite cities]]
[[Category:Italian fascist internment camps in Italy]]