Town · Province of Isernia · Molise

Venafro

Venafro is a comune in the Province of Isernia, in the Molise region of Italy. It has a population of about 11,079 and expanded quickly during the post-war period. The town sits in the western part of the region, near its borders with neighbouring areas of central Italy.

At a glance

Type: Town and comune (municipality)
Period: Historic settlement with rapid post-war expansion
Style: Molisan town with historic centre
Location: Province of Isernia, Molise, Italy

Overview

Venafro is a comune in the Province of Isernia, in the Molise region. It has a population of around 11,079. The town grew quickly in the years following the Second World War, expanding beyond its historic core.

History

Venafro is a long-established town in western Molise, within the Province of Isernia. After the Second World War it experienced a period of rapid expansion, which significantly enlarged the settlement. It remains one of the more populous towns of the province.

What you see

The town combines an older historic centre with newer districts that reflect its mid-20th-century growth. Its setting in the western part of Molise places it in an area of valleys and surrounding hills. The contrast between the historic core and the post-war expansion is part of the town’s present character.

Cultural significance

As one of the larger towns of the Province of Isernia, Venafro is an important centre in western Molise. Its long history together with its rapid modern growth makes it representative of the region’s evolving settlement patterns.

Practical information

Venafro is an inhabited town that can be visited freely. For opening times of specific sites, local events and services, check the official municipal website.

Getting there

Venafro is reached by road in the western Province of Isernia, near the edge of the Molise region. It connects to the regional road network linking western Molise with neighbouring central-Italian provinces and with the provincial capital, Isernia.

Sources & resources

Find it on the map

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Venafro is an Italian town&nbsp;in the province of Isernia, in Molise. It is the fourth largest city in the region by population. It has very ancient origins, dating back to the Italic people of the Samnites, where in the third century BC they fought bitterly against Rome during the Samnite wars. In 89 BC Venafrum was the scene of a decisive clash against Rome where the group of peoples of the &quot;Italic League&quot; waged war, in the so-called &quot;Social War&quot;. In the Middle Ages, it was invaded by the Lombards, and from the 6th century it became the seat of a diocese, as well as an important center of passage from Molise and Abruzzo to Naples. From the fifteenth century it was owned by the Pandone family, who contributed to the economic recovery of the center. In 1860 it hosted Vittorio Emanuele II traveling for the meeting with Giuseppe Garibaldi.



The historic center looks like a fortified village along the escarpment of the mountain, distant from the ancient Roman center, identified in the area of &acirc;&euro;&lsaquo;&acirc;&euro;&lsaquo;the amphitheater and the cathedral. The highest point of the village is the Pandone Castle while the Cathedral, following the pattern of the ancient Norman-Lombard cities, is located outside the walls. The urban layout is very precise, marked by thistles and decumans, and is influenced by the architectural influence of the Neapolitan Baroque. In the center there are two other important monuments: the French military war cemetery and the basilica of San Nicandro with the adjoining convent that hosted Padre Pio in the early 1900s, requiring medical treatment for his illnesses.



The municipality is located in the extreme western Molise on the borders with Lazio and Campania (it is also one of the four municipalities in the Molise region, together with Pizzone, Pozzilli and Tufara, whose territory borders on two regions) and stands at the foot of the mountain Santa Croce (1,026 m asl), at an altitude of 222 m asl, while the altitude of the municipal area varies from 158 to 1 205 m asl The municipal territory extends on the plain of the same name, crossed by the Volturno and San Bartolomeo rivers, whose sources are located right in the center of Venafro, where the &quot;la pescara&quot; lake is located. The main reliefs that surround the plain in order of altitude are: Monte Sambucaro (1 205 m), Monte Cesima (1 180 m), Monte Corno (1 054 m), Monte Santa Croce or Cerino (1 026 m), Colle San Domenico (921 m).


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https://culturalheritageonline.com/places/venafro-l2082/

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