Castropignano, located in the Biferno Valley in the heart of Molise, stands out for its fascinating historical and cultural heritage. The town spreads along a hill, while on a nearby cliff stand the ruins of the Castello d’Evoli, lords of the territory for centuries. According to legend, the castle was so large that it had a room for every night of the year. Prominent among local stories is that of the shepherdess Fairy, who, pursued by the duke’s guards, threw herself off a cliff to escape his snares. Even today her shadow is said to roam near “ru cantone.”
There are traces of human settlements in the area since the Bronze Age (1200 B.C.), with pottery fragments found in the castle area. Also important are the megalithic walls from the 4th century BC, evidence of the Samnite presence and struggles against Rome. The Roman era left the remains of two villas in the Cananella and Canala districts, the latter known for the “wonderful Canala spring.” In addition, a slab with fasces lictors is walled on the facade of the chapel of Santa Lucia.
After the fall of the Roman Empire came the Lombards, of whom the Clock Tower, part of the first castle within the settlement, remains. The name Castropignano first appears in a 700 AD document, but it may derive from the Latin “Castrum Pineani” or “Castrum Prignanii,” linking the village to the Neapolitan Prignano family. In the mid-14th century, the D’Evoli family, of Norman origin, built the castle outside the town.
The D’Evoli Castle, possibly built on an earlier Samnite fortress, has recently been restored and dominates the Biferno Valley. At the entrance, an inscription from 1683 bears the coat of arms of the d’Evoli family.
Prominent among the places of worship is the Romanesque church of San Salvatore, with two naves separated by Gothic arches and a Romanesque portal. Also noteworthy are the churches of St. Nicholas, Santa Maria delle Grazie (1500), the chapel of Santa Lucia (1700), and the 18th-century convent. Just outside the town, along the bifernina, is the church of Santa Chiara.
Castropignano celebrates its traditions with festivals dedicated to patron saints, Carnival, festivals and folk shows. Typical dishes include cicerchiata and polenta with sausage.