CAPUA, Ica'poo-i, Italy, city in the prov ince of Caserta, 18 miles north of Naples, on the Volturno, which is crossed by a handsome bridge. The district is very fertile, but some what unhealthy. It is the seat of an archbish opric, and was the principal fortress that cov ered the approach to Naples from the north. It was in consequence of great importance to the former kingdom of Naples. It has two magnificent gates, three principal streets, two handsome squares and three public fountains. The town is dirty and badly built. The prin cipal public buildings are the cathedral with a cupola supported by 18 columns, entirely mod ernized; the church of the Annunciation; the governor's palace, the town-hall, a museum with many ancient works of art, etc. The an cient city was situated two and a half miles southeast from the modern town, which was built from its ruins on the site of the an cient Casilinum by the Lombards in the 9th century. The site is now occupied by a consid erable town called Santa-Maria-di-Capoa-Vet ere. The ancient Capua, one of the finest and
most agreeable cities of Italy, was of such ex tent as to be compared to Rome and Carthage. Hannibal wintered at ancient Capua after the battle of Canna:, and thus not only lost time, but also is commonly said to have rendered his army unfit to follow up the advantage he had gained. It was a favorite place of resort of the Romans, on account of its agreeable situa tion and its healthy climate; and many existing ruins attest its ancient splendor. In 456 A.D. it was devastated by the Vandals under Gen seric, and in 840 the Saracens completely de stroyed it. The Torre Mignana inside, and the Capella de' Morti outside, the town, commem orate the bloody attazk on Capua in 1501 by Caesar Borgia. Not far from the city is the field where the soldiers of Garibaldi and of Piedmont defeated King Francis II of Naples, 1 Oct. 1860. Pop. 13,319.