Scapoli

Scapoli raised in the 9th century A.C. and underwent the vicissitudes of the close San Vincenzo al Volturno Abbey. Today the old mediaeval suburb still presents an important fabric of the town, whose characterising element is doubtlessly the marquis palace of the Battiloro’s. The building shows walls perpendicularly the surfacing rock, the foundations of the castle of Scapoli in past, successively transformed into residence. Inside the palace the inner great staircase leading to the basements and a big stone chimney in the kitchens rooms stirs up a peculiar interest. The last exponent of the Battiloro’s, the palace owner, in the 60’s sold it to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and recently it was bought by private people. From the lobby in front of the main entrance of the palace called “Sporto”, you can set out the “rounds path”, that follows at 360° the profile of the rock on which Scapoli stands. From the “Sporto” you can go on to the way “Scarupato”, passage covered by secular wooden beams; on the left there are little doors of slums alternating with narrow little windows, while on the right some round arch openings form a kind of subject from which you can admire the village below. Going on straight to the “Portella”, the road becomes larger and you can see the Monte Azione of Rocchetta, the striking ruins of the Old Rocchetta and the rich plain of the New Rocchetta from a low wall. At this point the rounds path bends into themselves leading to the “Meriche”: this is the most striking point of the walking, as on the horizon the summits of Monte Marrone and Monte Mare, that belong to the Mainarde mountain range, stand out. Going on to the “Meriche”, the road becomes narrower and leads to a secondary entrance of the Battiloro palace, also marking the end of this panoramic walking.