Morcone (Campania)

Morcone is a town in the Province of Benevento, in the Italian region Campania. The historic center of Morcone is spread out like a fan across a hill, with the castle remains at the summit, strategically dominating the surrounding landscape. The castle was probably built in the tenth century, although the first documented references date back to 1122. The ruins of the castle, mostly consisting of sections of perimeter walls, show that it had been built upon a Sunnite settlement. The foundation is made of polygonal stone blocks, a feature common to all Samnite fortified structures. The earthquake of 1980 damaged many urban buildings. The church of Saint Marc and town hall were subsequently renovated, bringing more modern architectural styles to the town. The San Marco gate is the only city gate that remains today.