Roccaravindola, a hamlet of Montaquila, conceals on its summit a great little gem, a castle that dominated the entire valley. Scarce documentary sources make reconstruction of the castle’s origins arduous. A few place names offer clues. The ancient access road, called “via di Collagnera,” is one example. This road leads to the so-called Porta Vecchia (Old Gate), now transformed but retaining the structure of a circular corner tower.
From the Porta Vecchia ran the “sporto,” a patrol walkway, now collapsed, made by superimposing houses on the original city walls. A second round tower stood halfway along this walk. Continuing along the city wall, a bend to the northwest reveals the presence of another circular tower and the arch called Porta Nova. The ancient defensive walls are now integrated into the dwellings that have been superimposed on them over time. The defensive line went up the slope until it reached the castle.
The earliest mention of the castle dates back to 1074, in a donation from Count Morino of Venafro to Abbot Desiderio of Montecassino. This document suggests that Roccaravindola was initially a military structure, around which an urban settlement developed with defensive walls. It is speculated that the first town wall with circular towers was not earlier than the 14th century. The earthquake of 1349 caused numerous disruptions. Maria of Durazzo in 1358 assigned annuities and granted tax exemptions to alleviate the hardships of the population.
Significant adjustments were made in the second half of the 15th century, when Roccaravindola passed to the Pandone family. In 1457 there were only 35 households, indicating a modest-sized settlement and a probably essential defensive system. The Pandone may have made minor modifications, such as the insertion of circular patches in the embrasures for the use of early arquebuses.
To this day almost no trace remains of the castle except in the houses and a few stones on the top of the hill. However, it remains a place of great historical importance and inestimable scenic value.