Discover Forlì Del Sannio: Churches, History and Local Cuisine

Churches as Stone Records of Local History

Forlì Del Sannio can be discovered through its churches, Samnite traces and local cuisine. The Chiesa madre di San Biagio was built in the 17th century. Its interior has three naves and seven altars. These include a high altar completely clad in polychrome marble.

A sundial is carved into the entirely stone-built campanile of the Chiesa madre di San Biagio. Admission to the church is free, allowing you to include this architectural detail in your daily itinerary without entrance fees.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie has a different architectural character. It features an 18th-century portal and a façade in the classical Romanesque style. The church has a single nave and contains five altars as well as wooden ceilings. Admission to the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie is also free.

Samnite Traces and Historical Names

The former Castello di Forlì del Sannio stood on the hilltop. A section of the retaining wall from this complex has been preserved there.

The original Samnite settlement area associated with Forlì Del Sannio was located in Contrada Santa Maria della Canonica, a few kilometres from the present-day town centre. Near this site, on a higher and difficult-to-access mountain, there is a stone fortification. The stone fortification is known as mura ciclopiche and Samnite fortifications. The area around the walls is called Castel Canonico.

Forlì Del Sannio was the birthplace of the Mannerist painter Giovan Vincenzo d’Onofrio, who was known by the nickname “Il Forlì”. The Palazzo Ducale is associated with Muzio Carafa and the year 1618. In the nearby frazione of Macchia, along the SS 17 near the Tratturo Pescasseroli-Candela, stands the Santuario di San Giuseppe Moscati, which is currently under construction.

Local Cuisine and Community Tradition

Sagne e fasciuole is a local dish made from pasta cut into strips with beans, peeled tomatoes, onions and basil. Another tradition involves cooking ciciarelli. In addition, cooked maize kernels, once used as animal feed, are now eaten communally by all participants.

Getting There and Orientation

If you are considering travelling by public transport, Isernia railway station is an important point of reference: it is approximately 16 km and about 19 minutes from Forlì Del Sannio. Forlì Del Sannio has daily bus connections to Isernia and the surrounding municipalities. The main bus stop is on Via M. Milano.

Other Places for Planning Your Trip to Italy

Other destinations you may wish to consider when planning your trip include Conca Casale, Macchiagodena, Isernia, Chiauci, Rionero Sannitico, Pescolanciano, Filignano and Colli A Volturno.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Isernia.