Perched villages, fairy-tale castles, archaeological sites, mountains and beaches. Here are 20 tourist destinations for summer holidays in Molise.

In addition to Campobasso and Isernia, here are the 20 places of interest to visit, recommended by National Union of Entrepreneurs and Farmers Union.

Villages

1. Agnone: beautiful mountain village, famous for its churches and for the Pontificia Fonderia Marinelli, the oldest Italian foundry specialized in the construction of bells

2. Bagnoli del Trigno (in photo): the enchanting village carved in the rock,  ‘pearl of Molise’

3. Capracotta: at 1421 asl, the favorite destination for ski lovers

4. Scapoli, beautiful village in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, ‘capital of the bagpipe‘

5. Pizzone with its Bear Museum (we are always in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park) 

6. Pescopennataro, ‘the country of stone and firs’

7. Frosolone, with its millenary tradition of forging knives

8. Castelpetroso, known for santuario della Madonna Addolorata, pilgrimage destination

9. Fornelli, among the most beautiful villages in Italy 

10. Venafro historic center and the castle

11. Santa Maria del Molise, a small village at the foot of the Matese mountains. To visit the medieval village of Sant’Angelo in Grotte with its churches 

12. Civitacampomarano, famous for its castle and for a street art festival, Cvtà Street Fest

Sea

13. Termoli with the ancient medieval village that stands on a small promontory on the sea. Wonderful 

14. Campomarino: wide beach, low shoreline, clear sea

Nature

15. The naturalistic oasis of Casacalenda, the oldest protected area in Molise

16. Guardialfiera Lake: an artificial reservoir created between the 60s and 70s thanks to the construction of a dam on the Biferno river. An imposing work that creates scenarios of rare beauty

Archaeology

17. San Vincenzo a Volturno Abbey, one of the most important medieval monastic complexes in Europe

18. The archaeological area of Pietrabbondante, the most important and significant evidence of the Samnites

19. The Roman city of Saepinum: a perfectly preserved Roman town, at the foot of the Matese massif

20. The Gambatesa castle, a real architectural and artistic jewel.

Brunella Muttillo

Photo: Bagnoli del Trigno, beautiful village in Molise