View source for Monte Massico

{{short description|Mountain in Italy}}

{{For|the genus of beetles|Massicus (beetle)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{One source|date=March 2012}}
{{No footnotes|date=March 2012}}
{{Expand Italian|topic=geo|Monte Massico | date=October 2020}}
}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Monte Massico
| photo =
| photo_caption = 
| elevation_m   = 813
| elevation_ref = 
| prominence_m  = 
| prominence_ref=
| range =
| listing = 
| location = [[Campania]], [[Italy]]
| map = Italy
| map_caption = Location in Italy
| label_position = left
| coordinates   = {{coord|41|07|51|N|14|00|03|E|type:mountain_region:IT_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <!-- it wiki -->
| topo = 
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = 
}}

'''Monte Massico''' ([[latin language|Latin]]: ''Mons Massicus'') is a [[mountain]] situated in the [[Italy|Italian]] [[Province of Caserta]] ([[Campania]]) between the rivers [[Volturno]] and [[Garigliano]].

==Description==
Monte Massico is an Italian mountain ridge. In antiquity, it was described as being in the territory of the [[Aurunci]], and on the border of [[Campania]] and [[Latium adiectum|Latium Adiectum]], but attributed by most authors to the latter.

It projects south-west from the volcanic system of Rocca Monfina (see [[Suessa Aurunca]]) as far as the sea, and separates the lower course of the [[Liris]] from the plain of Campania. It consists of [[limestone]], with a superstratum of [[pliocene|pliocenic]] and volcanic masses, and was once an island; its highest point is 811 meters (2661 feet) above sea-level.

It was famous for its [[Falernian wine]] in ancient times. There was just room along the coast for the road to pass through; the pass was guarded by the Auruncan town of Vescia (probably on the mountain side), which ceased to exist in 314 BC after the defeat of the [[Ausones]], but left its name to the spot. Its successor, [[Sinuessa]], on the coast, a station on the [[Via Appia]], was constructed in 312 BC, and a colony was founded there in 295 BC.

It was mentioned by classical writers as a place in which travellers halted. Here [[Virgil]] joined [[Horace]] on the famous journey to [[Brundisium]]. [[Domitian]] considerably increased its importance by the construction of the [[Via Domitiana]], which left the Via Appia here and ran to [[Cumae]] and [[Puteoli]], and it was he, no doubt, who raised it to the position of colonia Flavia. The town was destroyed by the [[Saracens]], but some ruins of it are still visible two miles north-west of the modern village of [[Mondragone]] - the mineral springs which still rise here were frequented in antiquity.

==See also==
*[[Falernian wine]]

==Attribution==
{{EB1911|wstitle=Massicus, Mons|volume=17|page=867}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Massico}}
[[Category:Mountains of Campania]]
[[Category:Province of Caserta]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Italy]]


{{italy-mountain-stub}}