Fornelli, Province Isernia, Molise, Italy

Near the Vardia river, on top of a hill facing Colle Ginestra where there are ruins of an ancient Italic acropolis, Fornelli was first recorded in the 10th century as one of the castles erected to defend the monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno. The name most probably derives from the presence in the area of a large oven (=forno) to bake clay bricks used for construction works. The original name was Fornello changed into Fornelli in the 18th century. During WW2, on 4 october 1942, the Germans in repression of the resistance of the village, executed the podestà (=mayor) Giuseppe Laurelli and another five citizens for which Fornelli was given a medal to military valor.