Campodimele

History

Campus Mellis rose probably over the roof Apiola, a very ancient Latin city, destroyed by Tarquinius Priscus, fifth king of Rome (579 BC); the ruins of Apiola are visible away from the present-day historic center of Campodimele. In the 6th century AD, the Lombards established the first fortified settlement, while in the following century it was part of the possessions of the Monastery of Montecassino. From 916, it was acquired by the Duchy of Gaeta. Campo de Melle is mentioned again in a donation by the Consul of Fondi in 1072. In 1087, Pope Victor III had a list of the abbey's property sculpted onto the bronze door of the Basilica of Montecassino. In 1384, it became a possession of the Caetani family of Fondi, but, in 1497, King Frederick IV of Naples gave the county of Fondi with the surrounding duchies, including Campodimele, to the Colonna family. In 1534, Giulia Gonzaga fled here from the Algerian pirate Hayreddin Barbarossa. In 1591, the fief was inherited by Luigi Carafa, Prince of Stigliano. Campodimele gained municipal rights in 1813. During World War II, the Gustav Line passed through Campodimele. Alberto Moravia, who had been deported here, took inspiration from the happenings of the time for his novel La Ciociara.

Most-observed species

• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  109
• Yellow-legged Gull

  Larus michahellis J.F.Naumann, 1840 · Aves
  91
• Italian Wall Lizard

  Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) · Squamata
  86
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  83
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  83
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  79
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  79
• Italian Sparrow

  Passer italiae (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  73

Most recent

• M 4.5 — 2026-07-31
  0 km WSW of Torre Caracciolo, Italy
• M 4.4 — 2026-07-24
  5 km WNW of Pizzone, Italy
• M 4.1 — 2026-05-21
  2 km E of Procida, Italy
• M 6 — 2026-03-09
  16 km SSE of Sant'Angelo, Italy
• M 4.1 — 2025-11-18
  16 km ESE of Ventotene, Italy
• M 4 — 2025-05-13
  2 km N of Bacoli, Italy