In ancient Roman times, it was an area covered by marshes caused by the nearby Volturno's floods.

The town is mentioned for the first time in a bull by emperor Frederick II of 1234, as Graczanum.

During World War II, the area housed an airfield, which was repeatedly attacked by Allied bombers in August 1943 and from 4 to 6 September 1943.

The German occupied it in 1943, after the Armistice between Italy and the Allies of 8 September 1943, expelling the Italian infantry division "Pasubio".

Some 100 people died during another bombing, aiming at a bridge on the Volturno, performed by American B-26s in the night of 30 September 1943.