"Molise doesn't exist," jokes the Italian internet — which turns out to be the best possible advertising for Italy's youngest region, autonomous only since 1963. It exists all right: in the tratturi, the grassy motorways of seasonal shepherding up to 111 metres wide; in Agnone, where the papally-warranted Marinelli foundry has been casting church bells for centuries with unchanged techniques; in hilltop villages and the Samnite theatre of Pietrabbondante.
Thirty kilometres of coast at Termoli, near-private mountains at Campitello Matese. If you're looking for Italy before tourism, it's here.
The provinces of Molise
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The top 3 places in Molise
Our editors' ranking: the area's most important places, drawn from the individual town guides. See the national rankings →
1
🏺 Archaeological sites Saepinum Archaeological Area
📍 Sepino
Encircled by walls built by Tiberius, ancient Saepinum is an exceptionally preserved Roman city in the Molise plain.
2
🏛️ Squares & old towns Old Termoli
📍 Termoli
A walled Adriatic promontory featuring an 11th-century castle, a Romanesque cathedral, and historic wooden trabucchi.
3
🎈 Unique experiences Marinelli Bell Foundry
📍 Agnone
One of Italy's oldest family businesses, this pontifical foundry has been casting bells since 1040.