Campobasso, Italy: travel guide to the capital of Molise, the Monforte Castle and the Procession of the Mysteries

Campobasso is the capital of Molise, one of the smallest and least-known regions of southern Italy. Set at around 700 metres above sea level among the Apennine hills, it is a city of medieval origins crowned by a hilltop castle, offering an authentic taste of Italy well away from the tourist crowds.

For travellers searching for Campobasso Molise, the Monforte Castle, the Procession of the Mysteries or things to do in inland Italy, Campobasso rewards visitors with a labyrinthine old town, a relaxed pace and the bold flavours of Molise cuisine.

History and the two town centres

Campobasso developed at the foot of a hill now dominated by the Monforte Castle. Unusually, the city has two historic centres: the medieval old town of winding alleys and stone stairways that climbs towards the castle, and the orderly nineteenth-century Murattian quarter, laid out under Joachim Murat, then King of Naples, with wide streets, monumental palaces, gardens and fountains that turned Campobasso into a small garden-city.

The Monforte Castle and main sights

The Monforte Castle is the symbol of the city. It takes its name from the count Nicola di Monforte, who rebuilt it after the devastating earthquake of 1456, on the site of earlier Norman and Lombard fortifications. Its terrace offers panoramic views over the city and the Molise landscape. Around it, the old town holds the Romanesque Church of San Giorgio, one of the oldest in the city, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The Villa de Capoa park, with its fountains and sculptures, provides a green retreat.

Traditions and gastronomy

Campobasso is famous for the Procession of the Mysteries (I Misteri), a Corpus Christi tradition in which living figures are carried through the streets on elaborate engineered floats; the Museum of the Mysteries is devoted to it. The city also has a centuries-old tradition of blade and scissor making. Local specialities include cavatelli pasta and the Tintilia red wine of the Biferno valley.