Discover Agnone: Bells, History and Craftsmanship

Streets, squares and art-historical routes

In the Quartiere Veneziano in Agnone’s historic centre, the town can be explored on foot along narrow streets that open onto small squares. Keystone stones and stone portals bear witness to the history of the respective buildings and their era. The “Quattro passi nel centro storico” walking tour leads through Agnone’s historic centre and offers the opportunity to discover its art-historical sights.

Libraries and old prints

The Palazzo San Francesco houses the Biblioteche Riunite Comunale e B. Labanca. The Museo Civico in Agnone displays a cast of the Tavola Osca. The original bronze inscription was found in Agnone and dates from the 3rd century BC. The Mostra del Libro Antico comprises more than 1,400 volumes produced between 1512 and 1830 in major European printing houses.

Bells and metal craftsmanship

The Museo Storico della Campana Giovanni Paolo II displays a collection of sacred bronzes described as the largest in the world, including a bell dating from the year 1000. Tours of the Museo Storico della Campana Giovanni Paolo II can be booked by telephone, email or through the advance online booking system. The tour includes a film about the artistic design, the construction of the model, the bell casting and the testing of a bell. The tour takes visitors through the museum and the foundry’s production areas. Visitors can hear the sound of the bells together with a technical expert and a bell founder.

Churches and traditional figures

The Chiesa di San Marco Evangelista is open during the day and can be visited free of charge. The Chiesa di San Francesco was founded in 1343 and has been a national monument since 1926. The Museo Storico del Rame Francesco Gerbasi presents the various stages of copper processing as well as numerous objects from different eras. The Museo della 'ndoccia displays examples of 'ndocce, figures in traditional clothing, photographs of their production and an annual trophy won by one of Agnone’s five Contrade.

Regional cheese and tours

Caciocavallo di Agnone is made from cow’s milk, shaped into a typical pear shape and aged for between three months and one year. Numerous dairy producers in Agnone offer tours of dairies and ageing cellars by prior reservation. The reservation is therefore a separate planning step before a dairy or ageing cellar in Agnone can be visited as part of the tour. Tours can be booked at Agnone’s pastry shops and confectionery businesses.

The Verrino and its protected area

Excursions can be taken along the banks of the Verrino River. The Verrino is a stream with periodically high water flow that passes through Agnone, among other places. The area in question is designated as a Natura 2000 special protection area under code IT7222127F.

Other destinations include Incoronata, Capracotta and Pescopennataro.

For the higher-level travel overview: Isernia.