Mirabello Sannitico

The Locality: A tradition says that there was the Samnite town of Ruffirium, not far from here in the area called Monteverde, where now the important town of Vinchiaturo lies. In the 3rd century BC The Romans destroyed Ruffirium in a bloody battle, and the population moved away and founded another village, called "Mirum Bellum" while on the ruins of the Samnite town the Romans proceeded to build a tower used as a fortress for political prisoners. In medieval times a number of lords ruled over Mirabello, among them Stefano di Beclair, the D'Alemagna, Gambatesa and finally the Frangipane families.

A beautiful legend tells the story of the miraculous intervention of St. George in the Middle Ages: invaders were approaching the village, when a majestic knight appeared on a hill (now called Colle San Giorgio) and at each touch of his spear from the ground there rose innumerable soldiers, and this frightened the enemies who retired. The people of the village after that ran on top of the hill, and saw not even one soldier, just in the middle of the vineyards the statue of St. George, previously kept in a chapel, and the saint was made the patron of the place.