In 216 BC, a powerful Roman army under the Roman Consul and General Varro camped in the town called Maccla, thought to be this town, prior to marching to the disastrous defeat against Hannibal at the Battle of Cannae.
On September 21, 1701, Gaetano Giacomo Gambacorta, styled the Prince of Macchia, started a conspiracy (Macchia Conspiracy), against the Spanish viceroy in Naples.