Benvenuti / Welcome to
Santi Cosma e Damiano
The town of Santi Cosma e Damiano is situated on a hillside at a height of 181 metres above sea level, close to the town of Castelforte.
Its name is derived from the Saints Cosmas and Damian, who were twin brothers who practised the art of healing and are said to have been miracle workers.
They led many to the Christian faith and became martyrs after being tortured and beheaded during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The saints are also the patrons of the town.
The town was first documented in 830 AD. A fortress was built to guard the local people from incursions by Saracens invaders. Locally there is an area known as Vattaglia, which in the local dialect means "battle", named after the Battle of the Garigliano of 915, between the forces of the Christian League, a coalition of Pope John X and loyal Christian princes from southern Italy, against the Saracens.
Following the victory of the Christian League the area became part of the Duchy of Gaeta, before being passed to the monks of Montecassino, led by Abbot Desiderius, in 1078. Finally it became incorporated by the Kingdom of Naples.
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