The history of Montenerodomo is linked to the two great families Croce and De Thomasis, whose most remarkable members are the philosopher and academic Benedetto Croce (Pescasseroli, 25 February 1866 - Naples 20 November 1952) and Giuseppe De Thomasis (Montenerodomo 19 Marcrh 1767 - Naples 10 September 1830) a minister during the Neapolitan revolution of 1820-21, commissioner for the state owned and feudal properties repartition for Abruzzo. The two families married into each other and they have got a common story: they both became rich by sheep farming and estates, some of their members were highly educated and started social climbing thanks to their degrees into law, medicine and clerical careers.

Those two historic families have been so great that the Square in the ancient town centre has been entitled to Giuseppe De Thomasis. On the square there is the small Church of San Vito martyr built in the mid 1700s by don Michele Croce and set as burial ground for the family. Recent works have remade the truss roof and the natural stone façade. Inside the restored chapel on the side of the altar there is a gravestone dated 15 July 1757 with a copy of the papal bull by Pope Benedict XIV granting “the beloved son Michele di Croce” with the celebration of Masses for “his and his blood relatives, relatives in law and descendants’ souls”.

The papal bull also grants the “life” right to lay patronage. On October 2002 “the heirs of the Croce family have given the Municipality of Montenerodomo the little private church set as family burial ground”, as you can read on the stone plaque at the entrance door. Masses are still celebrated there.

[Credits | Text: Ottavio Di Renzo De Laurentis | Translation: Mirella Rapa | Voice and music: Studio Qreate | Photo: Laura Di Biase]