The Matese mountain range not only holds fascinating stories, but also offers a suggestive landscape and characteristic villages such as Bojano, the ancient capital of the Samnites-Pentri. Located on a plain crossed by the Biferno river and surrounded by mountains, the city preserves historical and natural evidence of great value.
Bojano, known in ancient times as Bovianum, was at the center of the Samnite wars in the 4th century BC, when it clashed with Rome for supremacy over the Italic peoples. After the Roman victory, it became a municipium and experienced alternating periods of splendor and decline under the Lombards, Normans and Swabians, until it became the seat of the Counts of Molise.
Among the most important monuments, the Cathedral of San Bartolomeo stands out, built by Count Ugo di Molise. The modern façade features a decorated rose window and a Gothic portal, while on the bell tower there are two panels depicting a wild boar and a lion fighting a snake. The church of Sant’Erasmo is distinguished by its portal, the 16th century fresco depicting the Epiphany and the characteristic mullioned windows. The Civic Museum collects historical finds ranging from the 8th century to the Middle Ages, as well as numerous fossils.
In Civita, on a hill overlooking the city, there are the ruins of the Pandone castle, built by the Lombards and expanded in the following centuries. Continuing towards the Matese mountains, you reach the hermitage of Sant’Egidio, an ancient monastery from the 9th-10th century, restored in 1995. According to tradition, Sant’Egidio lived here feeding on the milk of a doe, as depicted in the statue preserved inside.
Bojano celebrates its origins with the Ver Sacrum, a historical re-enactment of the Samnite “Sacred Spring”, in which young consecrated men set out in search of new lands. The summer comes alive with the August Bojanese, full of exhibitions, shows and competitions, culminating in the feast of the patron saint San Bartolomeo on August 25.
The local gastronomy offers traditional dishes such as “fruffola”, prepared with chard, beans, potatoes and stale bread, in addition to trout in foil, dairy products and artisanal nougat. Bojano, with its historical and naturalistic heritage, is an ideal destination for those seeking a journey between culture and nature.