Agnone is a town where history blends with the art of metalworking, particularly copper. As far back as the Samnite era, this precious metal was used to make armour, statues and inscriptions. But it was from 1404, when Agnone became a “Città Regia”’ (Royal Town), that copper became the beating heart of its economy, linked also to transhumance and trade with neighbouring regions.
In the 18th century, the town boasted nearly 200 craftsmen specialising in copperwork: boilermakers, coppersmiths, tinsmiths and traders, all governed by strict regulations to ensure the quality of their products. The boom in copperworking led to the establishment of numerous foundries along the River Verrino, harnessing water power to drive the machinery. During the Aragonese period, Agnone became a veritable capital of the art of copperwork, with five foundries supplying over 180 artisan workshops.
With the advent of industrialisation, this glorious tradition suffered a drastic decline, but traces of the past are still visible. Today, the ancient foundries in the San Quirico district, restored in 1986, stand as a rare testament to the historic craftsmanship of Agnone’s artisans. Strolling through these places means immersing oneself in an era when Agnone’s copper shone throughout the Kingdom of Naples.