Piedimonte Matese: Samnite Traces and the Matese Landscape

Piedimonte Matese combines Samnite archaeology, sacred architecture, architectural and industrial history with the landscapes of the Matese. This creates a destination whose highlights range from Monte Cila and the Museo Mucirama to waterways and a distinctive railway line.

Samnite Traces at the Museo Mucirama

The megalithic walls on Monte Cila enclosed and delimited the area of the ancient Samnite city of Alife. The Museo Mucirama houses the archaeological exhibition “Gens fortissima Italiae: i sanniti nel territorio di Piedimonte Matese” about the Samnites in the Piedimonte Matese area.

The Museo Mucirama is located in a valuable Dominican monastery complex founded at the foot of the San Giovanni district in the final years of the 14th century. The archaeological exhibition features a broad selection of finds, most of which were recovered during excavations on Monte Cila.

Churches, Palazzo Ducale and Villa Comunale

The religious buildings also span several eras. The Church of San Tommaso d'Aquino is also known as San Domenico and was built at the end of the 14th century on the site of a Roman temple. The Baroque Church of San Salvatore houses a rare 13th-century sculpture depicting the Madonna della Neve. Valuable 15th-century frescoes have been preserved in the Church of San Biagio. The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is also known as San Marcellino and is an 18th-century church.

The Palazzo Ducale was built around the 11th century, probably on the same site where a Norman fortification with three towers had previously stood. Once the work was completed, the Palazzo Ducale became a meeting place for leading figures in culture and music. The Villa Comunale began as the private garden of the Egg family. Its bas-reliefs recount important parts of the history of G.G. Egg and the Piedimonte Matese cotton mill.

Waterways and Paths through the Matese

Water from Lago Matese flows through the Scennerato chasm, caves and underground passages. It reaches Piedimonte Matese through the Gola del Torano and emerges abundantly in the “Sorgente” area.

In the Matese area covered by the Piedimonte Matese section of the CAI, the Sentiero Italia runs for more than 40 km through the municipalities of Gioia Sannitica, San Potito Sannitico, Piedimonte Matese, Castello del Matese and San Gregorio Matese. The route passes through some of the most characteristic and impressive places in the Matese. The railway line descending from the Matese to Naples is considered one of the most scenic in Italy.

More Places for Your Trip to Italy

If you would like to combine Piedimonte Matese with other places on your trip, here are the direct links to the destinations: Cesa, Casapulla, Corigliano, Calvi Risorta, Valle Di Maddaloni, Conca Della Campania, Teano and Mignano Monte Lungo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Caserta.