Campochiaro - Campochiaro

Campochiaro is a center of the Molise.

To know

Geographical notes

It is located on theMolise Apennines in Central Molise, on the Molise side of the Matese massif. It is 23 km from Campobasso, 9 from Bojano, 18 from Sepino, 36 from Isernia.

Background

The Samnites were the first inhabitants of the area: Population of warriors, but also of farmers, they founded small towns throughout the Matese; they were then defeated and absorbed by the Romans.

There is no trace of the Roman period. The birth of Campochiaro as an organized center dates back to the domination of the Lombards who, after the conquest of Pavia in 572, spread to the south where they created the Duchy of Benevento. Campochiaro became one of the fortified centers of the territory, in defense of Bojano. In the 9th century the town developed further around the fortifications, of which the tower located at the highest point of the town remains today. Other towers are recognizable, albeit incorporated into the houses.

Linked to the events of Naples, the town suffered the destruction of the earthquake in 1805; the following year feudality was abolished. With the Italian Unification Campochiaro merged into national history.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By plane

• Pescara airport (Abruzzo International Airport), Via Tiburtina Km 229.100, ☎ 39 085 4324201. 
• Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP), Viale F. Ruffo di Calabria, 80144 Naples NA, ☎ 39 081 7896111. 
• Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Via dell 'Fiumicino Airport, 320, ☎ 39 06 65951. 

By car

• Adriatic Highway A14:

• from the north exit a Termoli, follow the direction Campobasso taking the SS 87 and the SS 647, continue on the SS 17, turn onto the SP 67 in the direction of Campochiaro.
• from the south continue on the A16 motorway, follow the direction Benevento, in Benevento continue on the SS 88, exit at Campobasso, take the SS 87 in the direction of Campobasso/Isernia, continue on the SS 17, take the SP 67 towards Campochiaro.

• From Termoli take the SS 16, continue on the SS 87, continue on the SS 647 in the direction of Campobasso, take the SS 17, turn onto the SP 67 in the direction of Campochiaro.
• From Campobasso take the SS 87, continue on the SS 17, turn off on the SP 67 in the direction of Campochiaro.

On the train

• Railway station of Guardiaregia (about 8 km).

By bus

• The main public transport companies operating in the Molise area are the following:
• Autolinee C.L.P. S.p.A., ☎ 39 081 5311707, 39 081 5312424, @[email protected]. Direct connection from Naples to Campomarino and Termoli 
• Lariviera bus lines. 
• SATI bus lines. 
• Molise Trasporti bus lines. 

How to get around

What see

• Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The church was restored in the 17th century with Baroque forms. The facade is an example of Neapolitan art with the main sector decorated with stone, and the side of the top rich in decorations and curls. In the center, in a niche, the statue of the Madonna. The bell tower is a small turret. The interior has three naves. 
• Medieval turret. The Angevin tower (13th century) is presumed to belong to the 10th century. Originally it was the highest tower of a medieval stronghold, with walls. Today the restored tower can be visited. It has a circular Longobard plan with a porthole window. 
• Urban fountain. Rebuilt after the earthquake of 1805, it is a red stone portico with six columns. 

Sites of archaeological interest

• Sanctuary of Hercules (in Civitella locality). The Italic sanctuary dedicated to Hercules is a site of considerable archaeological interest for the study of the civilization of the Pentri, an ancient population that lived in the Sannio area. Located on the slopes of the Matese, it was located near the tratturo that passing from the plain of Bojano united Pescasseroli to Candle; a stretch of road branched off in the direction of Larino. The area has given evidence of frequentation since the VII - VI century BC.

The complex of sacred buildings was destroyed by an earthquake in the 3rd century BC; in the following second century a new temple was built which was frequented until the first centuries of the empire, when it was then gradually abandoned.

The oldest structures are in the western area and belong to the temples of strutti from the earthquake.

The temple is of Ionic order, with a single cell and access stairway. A well was found in the center of the pronaos. On the northern side of the temple, two deposits of material contained one black glazed pottery from the 4th-3rd century BC, the other votive objects and waste material, possibly deriving from a possible destruction of the sanctuary by the Silla militias during the siege of Bojano in 89 BC 

Sites of environmental interest

• 41.4384114.546771 Guardiaregia-Campochiaro Regional Nature Reserve. It is included in the municipal areas of Guardiaregia and Campochiaro on the Molise side of the Matese mountains. To the south, the area borders the Matese Park of the region Campania

The area, born as a WWF Oasis, then evolved into a regional reserve and is spread over 3,125 hectares of land that boasts a great naturalistic value.  

Events and parties

What to do

Shopping

How to have fun

Where to eat

Where stay

Safety

Pharmacy

• 41.44789614.5079741 Musenga Pharmacy, Via Frascarello, 4, ☎ 39 0874 789181. 

How to keep in touch

Post office

• 41.4483514.5055462 Italian post, Piazza Madonna delle Grazie, 36, ☎ 39 0874 789113. 

Around

• Bojano - It was a powerful Samnite city, then a Roman center. In the Middle Ages it became an episcopal seat. It retains a beautiful old town full of churches, as well as the cathedral.
• Campobasso - The old city develops on a hill around the castle in a dominant position. The modern city has developed in the plan. It is the most populous center of Molise, of which it is the regional capital.
• Isernia - Among the first documented Paleolithic settlements in Europe, it was then a flourishing Samnite city, capital of the Italic League, later a Roman Municipium. Its millennial past has left it with an important monumental heritage that extends up to the pre-Roman era, as well as very important prehistoric finds.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Campochiaro
• Commons contains images or other files on Campochiaro

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