Roccamandolfi, from the Samnites to the brigands

Roccamandolfi is a town of nearly 900 inhabitants in the province of Isernia in the center of the Matese, a mountainous massif of the Central Apennines between Molise and Campania. Located at 850 m. SlM about 15 km south-east of the capital, near the provincial road to Campobasso, includes in its territory the highest peak of the Matese area, Monte Miletto, 2050 m. SlM Already a settlement 2500 years ago by the Samnites, an ancient Italic warrior population settled in Pietrabbondante, the village was invaded by the Carthaginians of Hannibal and then became a reference point for monasticism and later a refuge for fugitive partisans during the French revolution until it was the home of banditry. nineteenth century. Among the historical testimonies present in Roccamandolfi, the most important is certainly the Longobard-Norman Castle which dominates the fortress above the town, built by local lords for defensive purposes in the 12th century on the ruins of a pre-existing Lombard fortress. Also worth visiting is the eighteenth-century Sanctuary of San Liberato Martire, in Baroque style, where the relics of the saint are kept. At the entrance of the village there is an ancient stone cross road, a reference for the faithful on pilgrimage. Particular near the Castle is the Tibetan Bridge, 47 meters long and suspended 14 meters high, installed above a river as a tourist attraction, together with the beauty of the woods in the area and the cross-country trails and snowshoeing on the surrounding mountains. . If you want to make a gastronomic stop, the local Molise cuisine offers unmissable dishes such as Fiadone, a large ravioli stuffed with cheese and spices, macaroni with breadcrumbs, Tacozze and beans, stuffed veal and orange salad.