Campobasso

Overview

Campobasso lies at 701 m. above sea level, on the hilly ridge between the basins of the Biferno and Fortore rivers.

A centre of medieval origin, it was part of the Lombard Duchy of Benevento. From the 11th century, it shared the fortunes of the Kingdom of Sicily (later of Naples and of the Two Sicilies) though it was held by various local overlords (of which the most famous was Monforte) until the seventeenth century. It was united with the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.

Campobasso was built round a hill with the Castello Monforte (dating back to 9th century, rebuilt in 16th century) on its crest. In the oldest part of the town, with many interesting features, stand the splendid sixteenth century church of Sant'Antonio Abate and the Romanesque churches of San Giorgio and San Bartolomeo.

History