San Felice del Molise, originally called Sti Filič or San Felice Slavo, is a village located 546 m above sea level, surrounded by mountains, rivers and overlooking the Adriatic coast, with views of the Tremiti Islands and the Gargano. The town retains a characteristic historic center made up of stairways, arches, alleys and squat dwellings. The population, mainly of Slavic-Croatian origin, keeps traditions and language alive.
The origins of the village date back to the Middle Ages, when it was known as Castrum Sancti Felici, a name derived from a church dedicated to St. Felix. In the 12th century the fief belonged to Riccardo di Ponticello, followed by the Somma, Della Posta, Orsini and, from 1496, the Pappacoda. It later passed to the Brancia, Carafa and Sangro families, until 1683, when it was acquired by the Dukes of Canzano, who administered it until the abolition of feudality.
The village was deeply influenced by the arrival of Slavic-Croatian immigrants, who arrived after the earthquake of 1456. To this day the community still retains the language and traditions of origin.
Among the most interesting monuments is the church of St. Mary of Constantinople, built in the 14th century and transformed into a Romanesque-Gothic style. Inside are the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary and a wooden statue of St. Anthony Abbot, the work of Paolo Saverio Di Zinno. Another notable building is the chapel of San Felice Papa, dedicated to the town’s patron saint.
Nearby, on a hill bordering the town of Mafalda, is the partially buried Church of Our Lady of the Castle. Tradition has it that some women had a dream about an apparition of the Madonna on Mount Castello and, while digging, found a statuette of her. The shrine is located in the picturesque Castellelce forest, a place surrounded by nature ideal for peace and meditation.