Castellino del Biferno
Welcome to Castellino del Biferno!
If you're planning to visit Molise, don't miss out on Castellino del Biferno! This small town of around 900 inhabitants is situated in the province of Campobasso and extends over a hilly area of 15km². The village, overlooking the valley of the Biferno river, sits on a sandstone ridge at an altitude of 450 metres above sea level.
Let's discover the physical geography
The historic centre of Castellino del Biferno, known to locals as "Chécchiéforë", is located on a plateau that ends in a cliff, the "Ripe di Cùccele". The town is made up of four main streets: via Roma, located in the lower part of town, via Guglielmo Marconi, which connects the lower part with the upper part of the town, via delle Grazie, which extends above the homonymous hill located in the upper part of town, and finally via Chiesa, the oldest street from which the rest of the town developed. Here you can find the mother church of St. Peter the Apostle. In the upper part of town, there is a chapel dating back to 1300 dedicated to Our Lady of Grace.
The municipality of Castellino del Biferno also includes the hamlet of Castellino Nuovo, built in the Fascist era with the aim of protecting the population from numerous seismic and landslide events. Castellino Nuovo is located at an altitude of 774 metres above sea level and has a population of approximately 70 residents.
The climate
The town's climate is predominantly continental and is characterized by cold winters with snowfall and hot, yet not oppressive summers. The rainiest season is the autumn.
The history of Castellino del Biferno
Castellino del Biferno is a town that boasts a historic resistance against the continuous raids of Arabs and Saracens. The population, then still pagan and converted to Christianity only three hundred years later, managed to defend itself from Muslim invaders thanks to the strategic position of the town on a sandstone ridge overlooking the valley of the Biferno river.
The defence system devised by the citizens of Castellino del Biferno included two levels of defence: the first "at a distance", with bows, arrows, and slingshots, and the second "close-up" applied when the first level was breached by the invaders. The population used boiling oil and wine to defend itself, hurling it from buildings during attacks.
The hydrogeological instability
Castellino del Biferno has always been affected by hydrogeological instability. In fact, the town is nicknamed "the moving town" due to the frequent landslides throughout the municipal territory. The particular morphological and geological formations of the subsoil cause slow but continuous soil erosion, which often results in even large landslides.
What to visit in Castellino del Biferno
In addition to the mother church of St. Peter the Apostle and the chapel of Our Lady of Grace, the territory of Castellino del Biferno offers numerous outdoor activities. You can visit the Biferno river, which borders the town to the north, and Lake Occhito, one of the largest lakes in Molise.
Furthermore, you should not miss a visit to the Castellino del Biferno caves, beautiful limestone caves that hold important evidence of prehistoric life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Castellino del Biferno is an enchanting town that offers numerous opportunities for leisure and relaxation, immersed in nature and medieval history. The town is easily accessible by car and represents a perfect destination for those who want to discover the beauties of Molise.
