Campobasso
Campobasso is the capital city of the region of Molise in southern Italy. It is located at 700 metres above sea level in the high basin of the Biferno river and is surrounded by the Sannio and Matese mountains.
The origins of the city are unknown. It is generally understood that the Lombards founded it sometime before the 8th century. The city’s original name was Campus vassorum. For four centuries, from the mid-14th century, the city was governed by the Monforte-Gambatesa family, who built the Castello Monforte over either Lombard or Norman ruins.
In 1763, the old town was abandoned entirely and relocated below to a shorter level. In 1814 Campobasso was expanded by the King of Naples, Joachim Murat, close to what the city looks like today. In particular, the city experienced urban expansion with lots of green space, leading to the nickname ‘Garden City’.
The city saw heavy damage during the Second World War. Over October and November 1943, German and Canadian troops were locked in a battle for the city, which caused the destruction of many public buildings, including the City Hall. Canadian troops then occupied Campobasso, leading it to gain the nickname ‘Canada Town’.
Like many Italian cities, its main attractions are churches and castles. Castello Monforte from the 15th century is the city’s castle. Next to the castle lies Chiesa della Madonna del Monte church. The San Giorgio church, nearby, is the city’s oldest church, dating back to 1,000 AD.
The Cattedrale della Santissima Trinità church, originally built in the 1500s, was rebuilt in the 1800s following an earthquake. Many tourists flock here due to its 16th-century battles with the Crusaders.
The city, in the heart of Molise, is a nice mixture of culture and style. With the ever-present silence of the coast alongside a background of mountains, the city is a peaceful one, although one of the coldest in Italy.
Due to such a landscape, it is therefore not surprising to find out that the best Campobasso cuisine involves fish and vegetables, as well as dairy. pork meat, milk, cheese, oil and wine are common features on the menus of the city’s restaurants. Truffles and chanterelle and porcini mushrooms here are excellent, as are legumes such as chickpeas, fava beans and lentils. In fact, the best truffles in Italy come from Molise, with the white and scorzone varieties particularly excellent.
A typical Campobasso meal will begin with cured meat or cheese, such as the city’s own Formaggio di Petracatella, served with pickled vegetables. The first course will be soup or pasta such as taccozze e fagioli. The second course will be mutton or fish, served with an assortment of sides such as sagne e fagioli, a noodle and bean soup, or cheese.
Campobasso is also known for the craftsmanship of blades (in particular, scissors and knives) as well as its production of pears and scamorza cheese.
