Holiday apartment in Campobasso: Culture, Parks and the Misteri

Campobasso displays its cultural individuality particularly impressively on Corpus Christi Sunday: on that day, the Misteri are paraded through the streets on 13 procession structures carried on the shoulders of bearers. The sculptor Paolo Saverio Di Zinno designed and created them in the mid-18th century. Their mechanical workings can be explored further at the Museo dei Misteri. There, the mechanical “Ingegni” created by Paolo Saverio di Zinno are presented; in the main room, the Sala degli Ingegni “Cosmo Teberino”, visitors can view 13 “naked” machines with their structural and artistic features. The museum also includes two exhibition halls and a screening room.

Culture and History

The Museo Archeologico Nazionale was founded in 1881 and has been housed in and open to visitors at Palazzo Mazzarotta since 1995. Its collection spans the period from prehistory to the Middle Ages and has a distinct focus on Samnite finds. The archaeological materials include, among other things, items from Campomarino, Guglionesi, Larino, Sepino, Campochiaro and Castello Monforte.

The churches, too, preserve different historical layers. The Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate was converted into a church in 1572 by the Congrega delle Maestranze from an oratory located outside the city walls. Today, it preserves works by Francesco Guarino da Solofra, Scipione Cecere, Paolo Saverio Di Zinno, Amedeo Trivisonno and Leo Paglione. The Chiesa di San Giorgio, built in the 14th century, is decorated with frescoes depicting the Church Fathers, Evangelists and scenes from Genesis.

The Teatro Savoia was built between 1923 and 1925. Its entrance area, foyer and ceiling above the auditorium are decorated with frescoes by Arnaldo De Lisio dating from 1925. San Giovanni dei Gelsi adds a contemporary touch: the district has been transformed into an open-air museum of street art, and a street-art trail dedicated to the traditional Misteri festival has also been established there.

Green Spaces

Villa De Capoa combines the features of a botanical garden and an urban villa. Its park is home to, among other things, tall sequoias, majestic cedars of Lebanon, cypresses, Norway spruces and linden trees. The garden of the Convitto Nazionale Mario Pagano was also laid out as early as the late 19th century. Rare species such as the giant sequoia, Ginkgo biloba and the cedar of Lebanon grow there. The Convitto also includes an Aula Magna with paintings by Romeo Musa and an oratory with three large frescoes by Amedeo Trivisonno.

In the San Giovanni district, Parco Eduardo De Filippo is the most important green space. Its diverse planting includes numerous tree species. The park also has a play area, sports facilities and works of contemporary art. In summer, it hosts the Festival Nazionale del Teatro Popolare e della Tradizione.

On Foot and at the Train Station

Below Castello Monforte, you can walk through Campobasso along narrow, rustic streets on the hillside and via stairways. Campobasso railway station has a bus stop, bicycle parking, cycle paths, parking facilities for cars and motorcycles, and charging stations for electric vehicles. The station also offers an assistance service for people with disabilities or reduced mobility and has three tracks for passenger services.

Faith and Festivals

A particularly revered statue of the Virgin Mary from the Santuario di Santa Maria del Monte is carried in a procession every year on 31 May. Together with the Corpus Christi procession of the Misteri, this means that a recurring religious event is also part of the city’s annual calendar.

Culinary Specialty

L’Abatina is a particularly spicy De.Co. product. After being filled, the sausage is placed under a press, which gives it a flat shape even when served.

Other Places

Other destination pages: Marina Di Montenero, Castropignano, Ripabottoni, Termoli, San Biase, Montecilfone, Campobasso, Montenero Di Bisaccia, San Martino In Pensilis, Campomarino, Roccavivara, Guglionesi, Campodipietra, Lido Campomarino, San Massimo, Portocannone, Cercemaggiore, Petacciato, Sant'angelo Limosano, Rotello, Guardialfiera, Guardiaregia, Tavenna, Riccia, Vinchiaturo, Larino, San Leonardo, Acquaviva Collecroce, Mafalda, Colle d'Anchise, Castelbottaccio, Sepino, Matrice, San Giuliano del Sannio, Montagano, Ururi, Montorio nei Frentani, Ferrazzano, Palata, Bojano, Oratino, Monteverde, Montefalcone nel Sannio, Ripalimosani, Pietracatella, Limosano.

To the overarching travel overview: Molise.