Western Molise

<< Molise

The Province of Isernia occupies the western half of Molise. Its territory is largely mountainous, and most of the towns here are small villages. The main centers of the province are Isernia and Venafro, the only two towns with a population over 10,000 people.

Isernia

Isernia is a town in Molise, and the capital of its own province in the west of the region. First settled in the Paleolithic, the town was inhabited by the Samnites and then by the Romans. After a period under Lombard and Norman rule, it was for centuries part of the Kingdom of Sicily and then the Kingdom of Naples. Most of its old town has been damaged by earthquakes and during World War II. In 1970 the Province of Isernia was separated from the Province of Campobasso.

National Museum of the Paleolithic

The National Museum of the Paleolithic (Museo Nazionale del Paleolitico) is an archaeological museum in Isernia, located on the site of the Paleolithic settlement of La Pineta. This area was first settled by humans 700,000 years ago, which makes it one of the oldest sites of its kind in Europe. The museum houses various archaeological finds and exhibitions dedicated to prehistory.

Fontana Fraterna

The Fontana Fraterna is a monumental fountain in the old town of Isernia. Originally erected in 1835 with reused material from Roman and medieval structures, it was rebuilt after being destroyed during World War II. It features a peculiar series of arcades and six water jets.

Pietrabbondante

Pietrabbondante is a town located on the side of a mountain in the Province of Isernia. Inhabited since ancient times, it is known for hosting a large archaeological area.

Italic Sanctuary of Pietrabbondante

The Italic Sanctuary (Santuario Italico) of Pietrabbondante is an archaeological site located near the small town. This monumental complex was erected by the Samnites starting in the 2nd century BCE, and features the ruins of a theater, two temples, and various other structures.

Agnone

Agnone is a small town situated among the mountains in the Province of Isernia. An ancient Samnite and Roman town, it was an important center during the Early Middle Ages. Agnone has been known for centuries for the production of bells.

Marinelli Bells Museum

The Marinelli Bells Museum (Museo Campane Marinelli) is a museum in Agnone inside the Pontificia Fonderia Marinelli, a bell foundry established in the Late Middle Ages and still operating today. The museum houses several historic bells and exhibitions on the long history of the company.

Rocchetta a Volturno

Rocchetta a Volturno is a small town among the mountains of Molise, in the Province of Isernia. It is known for hosting a historic abbey and the source of the Volturno river.

Abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno

The Abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno (Abbazia di San Vincenzo al Volturno) is an ancient Benedictine monastery located between Rocchetta a Volturno and Castel San Vincenzo. The abbey was founded in the 8th century on the site of a church built between the 5th and 6th century. This monastery, erected in Lombard style, was destroyed in the 9th century, but some ruins are visible today. The new abbey was built nearby in the 11th century, and still houses some nuns.

Venafro

Venafro is a town in southwestern Molise, part of the Province of Isernia and close to the border with Lazio and Campania. Founded in ancient times, it was a Roman town, and it has been the seat of a bishopric since the 5th century. The town offers some historic attractions.

Pandone Castle

The Pandone Castle is a medieval castle in Venafro, which was reworked into a Renaissance palace in the 15th century. The fort now hosts a museum with a rich collection of artworks dating between the Middle Ages and the 20th century, along with exhibitions on local history.

Archaeological Museum of Venafro

The Archaeological Museum of Venafro (Museo Archeologico di Venafro) is a museum housing a collection of archaeological finds unearthed around the town. The museum features mostly objects from the Samnite and Roman era.

Venafro Cathedral

Also known as: Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Concattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta)

The Venafro Cathedral (Duomo di Venafro) is a historic church in Venafro, and one of the largest in Molise. Founded in the 5th century and rebuilt in the 11th century, it features Gothic elements and some Baroque artworks and decorations.