At the end of the fifties, digging under the church of Maria Santissima dell'Arco, a temple came to light with two openings, one facing south and one west, topped by two faces of different size and by the inscription Dicata Iano. Hence the idea that the name comes from Forum Iani, the forum of Janus, the god with two faces who looked forwards and backwards.
The other explanation is more prosaic: an estate belonging to one Furinius. The village used to be called Frignano Maggiore to tell it apart from Frignano Minore, which in the fifties changed its name to Villa di Briano. The earliest document dates from 988: Archbishop Adinolfo lists the estates that Princess Aloara had given to the Capuan monastery of San Lorenzo, and among them is Ferrayanu.
Pizza Napoletana · Caprese
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Next up: Saints Nazarius and Celsus, patrons of the land of the dog Pelliccione, Wednesday 28 July
Nearest airport: Napoli Capodichino, 15 km away
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📅 Every year, on 28 July
Frignano celebrates Saints Nazarius and Celsus on 28 July; the other patron, Our Lady of the Arch, is celebrated on 12 September.
📅 Every year, on 12 September
Frignano celebrates Our Lady of the Arch on 12 September, in the parish dedicated to her; the other patrons, Saints Nazarius and Celsus, are celebrated on 28 July.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside Frignano, but an easy day trip away.
