At the heart of Montefalcone del Sannio stands the Church of Saint Sylvester Pope, a centuries-old place of worship that blends history, art, and devotion. Founded between the 11th and 12th centuries, it was entirely rebuilt in the 19th century while preserving many significant historical and artistic elements.
The church, with its Latin cross plan and three naves, features a small dome and a barrel-vaulted ceiling decorated with paintings by local Molise artist Giovanni Leo Paglione, completed between 1979 and 1985. Stained glass windows, crafted in the 1970s, depict the symbols of the saints and were donated by a local benefactor, Giovanni Ferrara.
Among the church’s treasures are several wooden statues from the 15th to the 19th century, including a bust of Saint Anne (15th c.), and statues of the Immaculate Virgin and Saint Anthony the Abbot—likely works of renowned sculptor Paolo Saverio Di Zinno (18th c.). The choir loft houses a golden pipe organ from the 18th century, still in excellent condition.
A striking feature is the 13th-century Gothic portal, adorned with pointed arches and beautiful carvings, likely salvaged from the former Benedictine Monastery of San Pietro, once located between Montefalcone and Castelmauro. The entrance is accessed via a stone staircase built in 1886.
Damaged during World War II, the building was restored in 1947. Only one of the three liturgical bells—an 1800 kg giant—survived the Fascist regime’s requisitions for war materials. Today, the bell tower contains five bells, two civic and three for church use.
The church is also associated with the miraculous discovery of the relics of Saint Giso, whose remains were, according to tradition, guided by oxen toward Montefalcone—an enduring symbol of faith and belonging in this Molise community.