Cesa is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about north of Naples and about southwest of Caserta.
Cesa borders the following municipalities: Aversa, Gricignano di Aversa, Sant'Antimo, Sant'Arpino, Succivo.
This town has given the name to one of the prominent dynasties of Ancient Rome, including to the most famous of its members, Julius Caesar.
Monuments and places of interest
Parish Church of Saint Cesario diacono e martire
The Church was rebuilt between 1868 and 1872; the imposing facade overlooks Piazza De Michele (main town Square). The interior, in Romanesque Renaissance style, is divided into three naves and resting on large columns. On the right side of the transept, there is the Chapel of Saint Cesario, where is preserved a wooden bust of the saint which contains some bone fragments of the martyr's arm. On the vault of the central nave there are two significant scenes from the life of Saint Cesario, made by Raffaele Iodice in 1943. Church of Maria SS. del Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary) The church, located next to the Town Hall in Piazza De Gasperi (the secondary town Square), was built in 1608 and donated to the Dominicans, who built the little convent and lived there until the year 1808. The interior, has only one nave, with a single side chapel on the right wall, with underlying crypt where the remains of the monks are visible. Church of Madonna dell'Olio (Madonna of the Oil) The church is located next to the cemetery. Inside, on the marble high altar, there is a fresco, datable between the 14th and 15th centuries, depicting the Virgin and Child. Palazzo Marchesale (Marquis Palace) Adjacent to the Parish Church of Saint Cesario, the Palace rises majestic and imposing, with its two suggestive towers; it was inhabited by numerous families who in the past were the Lords of Cesa. It dates back to the beginning of the 15th century, it was subsequently renovated and enlarged. Grotte tufacee (tufaceous caves) In the historic center of Cesa, there are 99 artificial cavities located in a few thousand square meters, of which about 60 are real caves. Alberate aversane (tree-lined) The vines are arranged in trees with heights of 10 to 12 meters, forming imposing green barriers.
Patron Saint
The patron saint of the country is St. Cesario deacon and martyr of Terracina.
The cult of Saint Cesario in Cesa is very ancient, as can be seen from a document dated 1097 preserved in the Diocesan Archive of Aversa. In fact, there was already a church dedicated to him that, which became a parish in 1572, was enlarged and restored until its complete rebuilding took place, with the offerings of the people, in 1872.
On June 19, 1612 Cardinal Filippo Spinelli donated to the parish of Cesa some bone fragments taken from the humerus of the Saint Cesario (this relic was preserved in the Terracina Cathedral). Currently these bone particles are embedded in three precious reliquaries: in the wooden reliquary bust (1612), in the silver reliquary bust (1760), and in the silver reliquary arm (18th century). In the church only the wooden statue of the saint is permanently exposed to veneration, in the chapel dedicated to him.