Along the Biferno valley there are numerous villages, including Lucito, located near the Celano-Foggia sheep track. This small town, rich in history and curiosities, is one of the first you come across starting from Campobasso towards the sea. Its name could derive from the word “lucus”, which means forest, a testimony to the surrounding green landscape.
Lucito has an interesting feudal history: the first feudal lord was Bernardo di Lucito, while in 1455 King Alfonso of Aragon ceded the fief to Salvatore and Tommaso di Sangro. In the 17th century, the Capecelatro family acquired the territory, becoming the last feudal lords of the town.
In the center of Lucito you can admire fifteenth-century buildings, including the De Rubertis palace and the Capecelatro marquis palace, which overlooks the main square. Another important building is the church of San Nicola di Bari, which houses a panel by Santafede, depicting the Madonna del Rosario with four Saints, and a painting by Brunetti entitled “Holy Family”.
A significant aspect of the local geography is represented by the Celano-Foggia sheep track, which crosses the highest part of the municipal territory, over 800 meters above sea level. Here is the ancient Monastery of Sant’Angelo in Altissimo, built on a rocky spur (Morgia Sant’Angelo), although today only a few traces of its existence remain.
One of the main events in Lucito is the “Majje Dde Le Defenze”, a spring rite known as Maggio della Defensa. During this celebration, a man wears a metal structure adorned with flowers and plants, symbolizing the rebirth of spring and the hope of a bountiful harvest. This event, which unites the community, represents a moment of celebration and expectation for the future. In this way, Lucito not only preserves its historical traditions, but continues to celebrate the connection with nature and the cycle of the seasons.