he origin of the ancient settlement of the actual town
was lost ages ago, despite the evidence that the ancient territory of Ovindoli, probably
called Obinalum during the Roman Empire, it was probably inhabited as the following
discoveries would suggest: the remains of an interesting Roman villa with mosaic floors,
which was recently found at S.Potito; the sculptured Roman sepulchre discovered under the
Square at Ovindoli. Most probably, the present town developed around a tower or a fortress
of the ancient Marsi and expanded then into scattered nuclei, such asValle D’Arano
mentioned in the Seal of Clemente III.
It
seems that the ancient castrum was destroyed between 91 and 89 A.D., or in other words, at
the time of the social italic war, and then rebuilt during the Longobard era.In 1188 in Clemente III’s Seal "Sancti Angeli in Arano" is mentioned.
In 1222 during the conflict between Federico II and Tommaso the Count of Celano, Ovindoli took on a very important role. It appears in fact, that Tommaso took refuge in Ovindoli, after having escaped from the siege in Rocca di Mondolfi of Federican troops, to then surrender when the same Emperor arrived in Celano, demanding his surrender. From that time, the fate of Ovindoli was connected to the events of Celano.
In 1266 Carlo I d’Angiņ received six castles as a pledge for the security of a debt of 3000 ounces of gold from Ruggero di Celano among which were Ovindoli and S.Potito which were given in custody to the Templar Goffredo "Provisor castrorum" and to Guglielmo Figerio "Capitaneus militum in Aprucio."
In 1268 Carlo I d’Angiņ camps on the Altipiano of Ovindoli awaiting the conflict with Corradino.
In 1270 Ruggero di Celano pays off the debt to Carlo I d’Angiņ.
In 1279 Ruggero is the owner of numerous castles among which is that of Ovindoli and S.Potito.
In 1308 in the records of the Marsican Diocese the Church of Santa Maria di Campo Piezo in Ovindoli appears.
In 1387 in the list of property of Count Ruggero of Celano the Church of S.Maria in Ovindoli appears again.
In 1440 the Abbot of S.Potito of the Marsican Diocese is Iacopo di Antonio.
In 1527 during the reign of Carlo V the town marked with 104 fires, that in 1595 are 132.
In 1635 the estate of Ovindoli was possessed by Giulio Savelli, the Prince of Venafro.
In 1648 following the neopolitan revolt of Masaniello, after having taken Celano, Antonio Quinzi also occupies Ovindoli.
In 1669 the owner of the estate of Ovindoli still appears as Giulio Savelli. He was also in possession of the high-ground of Riccia di S.Potito.They then belong to the Piccolomini and the Cabrera-Sforza-Bodavilla until the abolition of feudes in 1806.