On the San Tommaso hill, north of the village of Duronia, lie the ruins of an ancient castle. In medieval times, the village was known as Civitae Veteris, and as early as the 18th century, numerous archaeological discoveries confirmed the presence of a significant urban center in ancient times.
Within the town, the imposing structures of the medieval castle stand alongside the Church of Saint Nicola, likely built in the same period. A stone cross, possibly dating back to the 15th century, is also present, resembling one found in Civitanova del Sannio. Several artifacts suggest that this area was destroyed during the Samnite Wars in 293 BC.
A few kilometers from the village, visitors can explore the Samnite fortification of Civita, located at 925 meters above sea level. Its walls, approximately 2 meters thick, consist of large, roughly hewn polygonal blocks on the exterior and smaller blocks on the interior. Well-preserved in the western section, the walls integrate with natural cliffs and steep slopes. The perimeter measures nearly 1 km, enclosing an area of 70,000 square meters. Along the route, a small doorway about 1 meter wide can still be seen.
The fortified hill overlooks the Trigno River valley and its tributary, the Fiumarello stream. At the northern base of the hill runs the tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera. According to historian Maselli, local feudal lords often resided in Naples, which explains the absence of a true castle. Instead, the site likely hosted a tower or a baronial palace, as suggested by the remains of square walls still visible in the gardens of the Petracca family.