Foglianise

Foglianise is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 50 km northeast of Naples and about 10 km northwest of Benevento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,555 and an area of 11.7 km². The municipality of Foglianise contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Cautani, Oliveto, Frascio, Palazzo, Barassano, S.Marco, Leschito, Sirignano, Prato, Ospedale, Dragonetta, Vaccara, Masseria Nuova, Utile, Fossi, Acquara, Mazzella, G.Viglione, Trescine, Palmenta, Badia, Iannilli, Cienzi, and Scafa. Foglianise borders the following municipalities: Benevento, Castelpoto, Cautano, Torrecuso, Vitulano. History Of prehistoric origins, Foglianise is known locally for the Grain Festival that takes place each August. The discovery of neolithic pottery and ceramic objects testifies to the antiquity of the human civilisation here, which may date back to the Samnite epoch. The area is rich in water and pasture, so the economy of that time was probably pastorally based. A Latin epigraph believed to date from the third century and dedicated to the goddess Fortuna Folianensis, indicates that the name Foglianise was of Roman origin, possibly connected with a substantial land owner names Folius Oriens. There appear to have been significant economic changes in the third and fourth centuries involving changes to the route of the road to Telesia. Roman era relics include the remains of a water storage tank. Demographic evolution References ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat. External links www.foglianise.org