Roccasicura - Roccasicura

Roccasicura is a center of the Molise.

To know

Geographical notes

OnMolise Apennines, in the area ofIsernino, is 23 km from Isernia, 25 from Castel di Sangro, 31 from Agnone. 74 from Campobasso.

Background

Built in the 10th century by the Lombards, it was a fief of Sicone I di Benevento. The village was perched around the castle and the church of San Leonardo; and passed to the Borrellos of AgnoneLater it passed to the Angevins and withstood the earthquake of 1456.

In the Norman-Lombard period it was known as Roccha Siconis, in reference to Sicone of Benevento; then in the XII-XIII century it became Rocca Siccem, Rocca Cicuta or Ciconia. In the 16th century, with the institution of the university, the name became Rocca Sicura.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By plane

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

By car

• Adriatica A14 motorway, exit at Montenero di Bisaccia/Vast South/San Salvo, take the SS 650 (Fondo Valle Trigno) in the direction of Isernia, turn onto the SS 651 in the direction of Carovilli, continue on the SS 86 in the direction of Roccasicura.
• A1 Autostrada del Sole:

• from the north exit at San Vittore, follow the direction Venafro on the SS 6, in Venafro continue on the SS 85, continue on the SS 17, take the SS 650 in the direction of San Salvo, turn onto the SS 651 in the direction of Carovilli, continue on the SS 86 in the direction of Roccasicura.
• from the south take the Autostrada del Sole A1 Rome - Naples, exit at Caianello, follow the signs for Isernia, SS 85, continue on the SS 17, continue on the SS 650 in the direction of San Salvo, turn onto the SS 651 in the direction of Carovilli, continue on the SS 86 towards Roccasicura.

• From Isernia take the SP 21, continue on the SS 17 in the direction of Forlì del Sannio, continue on the SS 86 in the direction of Roccasicura.
• From Campobasso take the SS 87 (Bifernina state road), near the Vinchiaturo continue on the SS 17, take the SS 650 (Fondo Valle Trigno), turn onto the SS 651 in the direction of Carovilli, continue on the SS 86 in the direction of Roccasicura.

On the train

• Isernia railway station (about 28 km away):

• Line Termoli - Campobasso - Isernia
• Line Rome- Isernia - Campobasso
• Line Naples- Isernia- Campobasso

Connections to Roccasicura by bus with the "SATI" bus lines (Isernia - Miranda - Roccasicura line).

By bus

• The main public transport companies operating in the Molise area are the following (consult the website for destinations and timetables):
• SATI bus lines
• Lariviera bus lines
• Molise Trasporti bus lines
• Autoservizi F.lli Cerella: For connections to Isernia from Rome and Naples

For information: Tel. 0874 61171; Via Campania 3, 86100 Campobasso

How to get around

What see

• Castello d'Evoli. The oldest known toponym of the town, Roccha Siconis, leads back to the Lombard Sicone I, prince of Benevento. The primordial cluster of houses developed below the fortress, near the Maltempo stream, where the presence of the ancient church of S. Leonardo is remembered. Subsequently the inhabited center gradually moved higher and higher, close to the rocky ridge, at the foot of the castle, in the area now known as the land. The fortification was enlarged in the following period (X and XI century). In the castle the counts of Borrello first became fiefdoms, who probably built the monastery of S Benedetto (donated by Randisio in 1035 to the monastic community of San Pietro Avellana), then the counts de 'Moulins. From the Catalogus Baronum (1150-1168) the Roccasicura castrum is indicated as Rocca Siccem. Later, in the 13th century, the town is called Rocca Sicona and later Rocca Ciconia or Cicuta. In 1269 the fortification, again referred to as Rocca Siconis, was included among the possessions donated by Charles of Anjou to the officers of his army and, in 1296, among the rebel countries that paid the focatico (tax on fires) as a punishment for the revolt carried out against King Charles himself.

The castle today is almost a ruin, however recovered, and consists of a rocky spur used as a lookout, and two towers. The first has a circular plan, while the other has been transformed into a quadrangular tower with a clock for the town hall. 

• Church of San Leonardo. The historic church was founded by the Lombards and has maintained the old appearance of a small chapel with a single nave, despite the Baroque reworking of the façade. Only the portal retains the appearance of the XII century with a simple arch and lunette. The bell tower is a squat tower.

The interior preserves a Romanesque baptismal font (11th century) and an altar dedicated to San Leonardo, baroque, with twisted columns. 

Events and parties

What to do

Shopping

How to have fun

Where to eat

Average prices

• "Il Pozzo" restaurant and pizzeria, piazza Sant'Antonio, ☎ 39 0865 837167. 

Where stay

Average prices

• Il Tratturo - farmhouse, Friscalete locality, ☎ 39 0865 837151. 
• B&B "Da Clara", Via Vigneti, ☎ 39 366 3583654. 
• B&B "Il Torchio", Via S. Antonio, ☎ 39 0865 837168. 

Safety

Pharmacy

• Pisano, Piazzetta Aldo Moro, ☎ 39 0865 837283. 

How to keep in touch

Post office

• Italian post, Piazza Umberto I, 2, ☎ 39 0865 837149. 

Around

• 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.
• Pietrabbondante - The remains of the fortifications and the spectacular Samnite Theater of Monte Saraceno testify to the human presence on the territory of Pietrabbondante since remote times. Near the inhabited center are the remains of the ancient settlement which was the most important sanctuary and political center of the Samnites between the 2nd century BC. and 95 BC
• Castel di Sangro - It was a Roman city, then a fief of the Borrellos; the ruins of the medieval castle and the nearby megalithic walls testify to the past greatness of port of Abruzzo.

Itineraries

• Castles in the province of Isernia - There are numerous manors of theMolise Apennines in the countries of [Alto Molise]], ofIsernino he was born in Venafrano. Some are in ruins due to war or earthquakes; others have been recovered; many have a military aspect, with little or no external architectural evolution of transformation into a stately home.

Other projects

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

Draft : the article respects the standard template contains useful information for a tourist and gives brief information on the tourist destination. Header and footer are correctly filled out.