Montefalcone nel Sannio, a charming village in the Trigno Valley, is built on “La Rocchetta” mountain with stone alleys leading to its green pine forest. The village retains an ancient charm, evidenced by its stone houses and archaeological remains.
It is believed that the original settlement was “Maronea,” a sanctuary-fortress inhabited by the Samnites and the scene of clashes during Hannibal’s march to Canne. Remains of cyclopean walls are still visible on the mount. After a period of little historical documentation, Montefalcone appears again in the Angevin period as a fief of the Cantelmo family, then following the fortunes of the Kingdom of Naples until the unification of Italy. In 1869, to distinguish itself from other municipalities of the same name, the town added “del Sannio” to its name.
Of particular interest is the church of San Silvestro Papa, rebuilt in 1732 after a fire in 1702. In neo-Baroque style, it houses statues attributed to Paolo Saverio di Zinno and a relic of St. John the Baptist. The 17th-century organ with a pure gold case, among the oldest in Molise, is notable. Beneath the church is the crypt of St. Catherine.
The bell tower houses five bells, including “the big one,” the only survivor of wartime requisitions, and “The French one,” cast in 1967 from the bronze of a French bell delivered after the war. Curious is the legend of the back steps, which were meant to be eighteen for symbolic reasons but were made larger in number out of spite for the patron.
Other places of interest include the Church of Our Lady of Grace, linked to the tradition of barren women seeking grace, and the nearby Capuchin convent. Also worth visiting are the remains of Samnite fortifications, the Ducal Palace, the fountain in Piazza del Popolo, Bosco Selva, Lago Grande, and the Maronea Picture Gallery. Via Margherita, dedicated to Queen Margherita, is nicknamed “the Siberia” because of the persistent cold.
Montefalcone boasts many folk traditions, including “Le Farchie” on Christmas Eve, “Lu Bufù” and “La Pasquetta” between December and January, and the singing of St. Anthony the Abbot and St. Sebastian. Typical dish is cavatelli with goat meat. Desserts include Christmas “Calciune” and Carnival “La pizzaonta.”
For the brave, it is impossible to resist the allure of paragliding, an adrenaline-pumping and fascinating moment.