The origins of Civitella are unknown, though in the area have been found traces of human presence as early as the
Neolithic and
Upper Palaeolithic ages. The current town is believed to lie on the former
Beregra, a town of the
Piceni Italic tribe. It is first mentioned in the 10th to 11th centuries, as a walled town; in the 13th century it was part of the
Kingdom of Naples, having a special importance as it was on the boundaries with the
Papal States. In 1557 it was besieged by French troops, but in vain. Thanks to its fierce resistance, it was given the title of
Fidelissima ("Very Faithful") by King
Philip II of Spain (at the time southern Italy was under Spanish control). Civitella was besieged again by the French during the
Napoleonic Wars, in 1798 and 1806, this time being captured after four months of defence. In 1816, after the
Congress of Vienna, it was annexed to the
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The fortress of Civitella was the location of the last stand of that Kingdom after the Garibaldine and Piedmontese invasion of 1860, after the King
Francis II had already surrendered in
Gaeta, Naples and Sicily being annexed to the newly formed
Kingdom of Italy. Civitella surrendered on 20 March 1861. ==Main sights==