Pietrabbondante
| Pietrabbondante | ||
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| Comune | ||
| Comune di Pietrabbondante | ||
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 Pietrabbondante
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| Coordinates: 41°45′N 14°23′E / 41.750°N 14.383°E | ||
| Country | Italy | |
| Region |
 Molise
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| Province / Metropolitan city | Isernia (IS) | |
| Frazioni | Arco, Macere, Ortovecchio, Ragusa-San Vincenzo, Sant'Andrea, Troilo, Vigna La Corte | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Giovanni Tesone | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 27.3 km2 (10.5 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,027 m (3,369 ft) | |
| Population (1 March 2010) | ||
| • Total | 838 | |
| • Density | 31/km2 (80/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Pietrabbondantesi | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 86085 | |
| Dialing code | 0865 | |
| Patron saint | St. Vincent Ferrer | |
| Saint day | August 5th | |
| Website | Official website | |
Pietrabbondante is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Isernia in the Italian region Molise, located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Campobasso and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Isernia.
Pietrabbondante borders the following municipalities: Agnone, Castelverrino, Chiauci, Civitanova del Sannio, Pescolanciano and Poggio Sannita.
Pietrabbondante's earliest known inhabitants were the Samnites, who arrived in Pietrabbondante in the 6th century BC. Many historians believe that it was home of the assemblies of the Samnite federal government. The Samnites called the place "Bovianum" but this only lasted for a few centuries, its demise the result of defeats in the Samnite wars as well as the site's ultimate destruction at the hands of Lucius Cornelius Sulla (89 BC). Pietrabbondante then became part of the Roman colony located in Sannio and was documented by Pliny the Elder. The Romans called the town "Bovianum Vetus", the early role of which is little known. It became, however, a center of vital importance; when the Romans conquered the Samnites, Pietrabbondante became a place of reference for checking the Alto Molise.
The Samnite town stretched for just over six hundred meters; nevertheless, the area remains rich in archaeological material. Excavations in the 1840s brought to light sections of marble statues, clay tools, coins, weapons, etc. A very notable archeological find is the temple and the theater built of polygonal limestone that is a rare Italian example of retaining a Greek structure built by the Samnites.
After the Lombards of the 8th century, it came to be designated by the name "Petra Habundante". The current name is relatively recent and is etymologically justified because the area is rich in limestone rocks and debris. In 957, the city was the capital of one of thirty-four counties in which it was divided by the Duchy of Benevento. Noble families intertwined with governing Pietrabbondante include Cantelmo, the Carafa, the Marquises, D'Andrea, and finally to D'Alessandro.
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Wikipedia