History 2

Montefalcione is a village located inside the province of Avellino. It is from this village that Albert A. Antosca’s parents were born and married. Montefalcione is about 35 miles from Naples. It’s altitude of it’s mountain is 1715 feet above sea level and it’s population today is 3400 inhabitants. Montefalcione’s surface area is 5.85 square miles.
The origins of Montefalcione go back several centuries. In the Middle Ages the village was a hill names Santa Maria. Here the Aboriginal populations fought battles against the Barbarians. The period of the splitting between the Roman Empire of the West against other successive orders of Barbarians left destruction and abandonment of the territories. Santa Maria’s easy access to the enemy caused destruction in places. The villagers then constructed a castle on a higher and steeper hill of rocks offering the residents a sure shelter. It was then the first core nucleus formed in the village with the name of Montefalcione.

The church of the Sant’ Maria in the Sky, the Albazia and the Public Square of the Elm tree and houses were built around the castle. In 1680 the Hermits came and built the Church Mother and dedicated it to Saint Giovanni Batiste. A hospital and a monastery and later a convent for the Benedictines of Montevergine were also built around the castle. During these years of construction, the hands of our kinsmen made an entire uninterrupted road.

Montefalcione has suffered from many earthquakes. The village had major earthquakes on September 8. 1684, June 5, 1688, March 14, 1706 and most recently on November 23, 1980. The most severe earthquake was November 29, 1732 claiming approximately 2000 victims. Another source of destruction there was the result of Montefalcione being a combat center during World War II.

Giuseppantonio Iantosca, his wife Mariantonia Rappa and their children Concetta, James, Gaetano and Vincent and their families all came to America. Vincenzo (Vincent), his wife Maria Antonia and their infant daughter Caterina (Catherine), set sail from Naples for the New World, United States. They arrived at Ellis Island, on February 9, 1900, on the ship the “Furst Bismarck”.