Nestled in a picturesque landscape, at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, stands the small rural church dedicated to Our Lady of Monteverde. Built in 1939, the small church watches over the remains of an ancient Benedictine abbey, guardian of a thousand-year history rooted in ancient times.
The mountain of Santa Maria di Monteverde was inhabited since the time of the Samnites, as evidenced by the imposing megalithic walls, similar to other fortifications that stand on the region’s peaks. The Romans, who came later, gave this area the name Ruffirium, leaving traces of their passage reused in the construction of the later Benedictine abbey. A particularly valuable find is an unpublished monumental funerary inscription, carved on a limestone block and now embedded in the ruins of the monastery, to the left of the entrance.
In the Middle Ages, the Benedictine rule of ora et labora transformed the site into an important religious, cultural and economic center for the surrounding communities. The monastic complex grew in importance, so much so that in 1022 it became an independent abbey, governed by its own abbot. The local legend of King Bove, which tells of the construction of 99 churches in a single night with the help of the devil, includes the Monteverde monastery as the first of these, attesting to its antiquity and relevance in popular folklore.
The vitality of this sacred place and its settlement came to a tragic end with the earthquake of July 26, 1805. The earthquake caused the final collapse of the abbey church, which was never rebuilt, marking the conclusion of a millennial era.
Today, the Monteverde area is a popular destination for out-of-town trips, relaxing moments in the sun, rejuvenating walks and mountain biking adventures among the wooded trails. Every year, on August 16 and the last Sunday of the same month, the Mirabello Sannitico community gathers on the plateau for a traditional picnic outing. Amid cheerful barbecues, folk songs and the taste of local wine, Monteverde Mountain continues to be a place for meeting and sharing, where ancient history is intertwined with the lively traditions of the present.