is the capital city of the
Molise region in
Italy . It is located in the high basin of the
Biferno river, surrounded by the
Sannio and
Matese mountains.
Campobasso is renowned for the craftmanship of
Blades (including
Scissor s and
Knives ), historically documented since the
14th Century . It also famous for the production of
Pear s and
Scamorza (cheese).
The origins of Campobasso are still disputed. According to the most agreed theory, the city was founded before the
8th Century as a fortified camp by the
Lombards , on the steep of the hill where a castle is. The original name was ''Campus vassorum'', meaning the city was in origin the seat of the
Vassal s of the
Duke Of Spoleto .
After the
Norman conquest of Southern Italy, Campobasso lost its connotation of a defensive strongpoint and gained a role as a trading and administration centre.
From
1330 to
1745 the city was ruled by the Monforte-Gambatesa, who built the castle and established a mint. Later it was ruled by the Di Capua,
Gonzaga , Vitagliano,
Carafa and Romano families.
In
1763 the citizens abandoned the old city and settled in the lower valley. The current city was expanded in
1814 by the
King Of Naples Joachim Murat , and lies on the ''Campo Basso'' ("Low field").
In the October and November
1943 Campobasso was the centre of fights between the
Allies and
German troops. Several buildings and plant were destroyed, and 38 citizens were killed. In
1995 the city received the Bronze Medal for Civil Valour for the harsh work made by the Campobassani to clean all territory from dangerous unexploded warheads, a work that lasted well into 1948.
The main attraction of Campobasso is the ''Castello Monforte'', built in
1450 by the local ruler Nicola II Monforte, over Lombard of Norman ruins. The castle has
Guelph Merlon s and lies on a commanding point, where traces of ancient settlements (including
Samnite walls) have been found. The current construction is the result of later rebuildings after the earthquakes of 1456 and
1805 .
Next to the castle is the ''Chiesa della Madonna del Monte'' (Santa Maria Maggiore), erected in the
11th Century and rebuilt in
1525 . It houses a precious wooden statue of the ''Incoronata'' from
1334 . At the feet of the castle, the church of St. George is probably the most ancient church of Campobasso, built around the year 1000 AD over the ruins of a Pagan temple.
The main church is the Cathedral, or ''Chiesa della Santissima Trinità'' (Church of the Holy Trinity), was built in
1504 outside the city walls. It was destroyed by an earthquake in
1805 and a new
Neoclassical edifice was built in
1829 .
The church of ''San Bartolomeo'' is a
Romanesque building from the 11th century, in limestone. The interior has a nave and two aisles.
''San Leonardo'' (14th century) has a façade mixing Gothic and Romanesque elements, and a side mullioned window with vegetables decorations influenced by the Apulian architecture of the period.
''Villa de Capoa'', recently restored, is a noteworthy garden with statues and a wide variety of vegetable species, including
Sequoia s,
Norway Spruce s,
Cypresses and
Lebanon Cedar s.
