They say the old village, Ripalda Vecchia, was abandoned because of an invasion of ants. The December 1456 earthquake is likelier: it killed something like 40,000 people across the centre and the south, and there were also Saracen raids along the coast and malaria from the rice fields. In 1457 Alfonso of Aragon handed the ruined fief to Andrea D'Evoli, who put it back on its feet by calling in Slavs fleeing the Turks to farm it.
The name came much later: in 1903, a year after the birth of Princess Mafalda of Savoy, the council of Ripalta sul Trigno voted unanimously to name the village after her. In the dialect of its 1,231 residents it is still Ripalda.
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📅 Every year, on 17 September
On 17 September Mafalda celebrates Saint Valentine; for the occasion the "Pe Le Ruv d'R'pald" food-and-wine walk is held through the historic centre, among stops offering typical dishes and local wine.
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 Mafalda, but an easy day trip away.
