Campobasso (IPA: [kampoˈbasso] ( listen); Campobassan dialect Cambuàsce, IPA: [kambuˈwaʃʃə]) is a ceety an comune in soothren Italy, the caipital o the Molise region an o the province o Campobasso. It is locatit in the heich basin o the Biferno river, surroondit bi the Sannio an Matese muntains.

Campobasso
Comune di Campobasso
Coat of airms o Campobasso
Coat airms
Campobasso is located in Italy
Campobasso
Campobasso
Location o Campobasso in Italy
Coordinates: 41°34′N 14°40′E / 41.567°N 14.667°E / 41.567; 14.667
KintraItaly
RegionMolise
ProvinceCampobasso (CB)
FrazioniSanto Stefano
Govrenment
 • MayorLuigi Di Bartolomeo (syne 7 Juin 2009) (The Fowk o Freedom)
Area
 • Total55 km2 (21 sq mi)
Elevation
701 m (2,300 ft)
Population
 (November, 2008)
 • Total51,255
 • Density930/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Campobassani
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
86100
Diallin code0874
Patron sauntSt. George
Saunt dayApril 23
WebsiteOffeecial wabsteid

Campobasso is renouned for the craftmanship o blades (includin scissors an knives), a fact well documentit syne the 14t century. It is an aa famous for the production o peirs an scamorza (cheese). The ceety is the hame o the University o Molise an o the Airchdiocese o Campobasso-Boiano.

Climate eedit

Situatit 701 metres (2,300 ft) abuin sea level an close tae the Apennine Muntains, Campobasso is considered ane o the cauldest ceeties o soothren Italy. It haes an average temperature o aboot 12 °C (54 °F), wi winter tae simmer rangin 2–22 °C (36–72 °F) on average. Durin the winter, snawfaws are frequent. The wettest time o year is the hairst wi aboot 81 millimetres (3.2 in) o rain each November.

History eedit

 
Bell touer o the S. Bartolomeo Kirk in the Medieval centre o Campobasso.

The oreegins o Campobasso are disputit. Accordin tae the maist widely held theory, the ceety wis foondit bi the Lombards afore the 8t century as a fortifee'd camp on the slope o the hill whaur the castle staunds. The oreeginal name wis Campus vassorum, suggestin that the ceety wis the seat o the vassals o the Duke o Spoleto.

Efter the Norman conquest o Soothren Italy, Campobasso lost its importance as a defensive stranghauld, but became a significant tradin an admeenistration centre.

Frae 1330 tae 1745 the ceety wis ruled bi the Monforte-Gambatesa faimily, who biggit the castle an established a mint. Later it came unner the control o the Di Capua, Gonzaga, Vitagliano, Carafa an Romano families.

In 1763 the ceetizens abandoned the auld ceety an settled in the lawer valley. The current ceety wis expandit in 1814 bi the Keeng o Naples Joachim Murat, an lies on the Campo Basso ("Low field").

Campobasso wis the scene o hivy fechtin durin the Seicont Warld War. In the months o October an November 1943 a battle atween the German an the Canadian troops for possession o the ceety caused the destruction o mony public biggins, includin the Ceety Haw an the airchives held thare. Thirty aicht ceevilians wur killed in the action, includin the bishop o the diocese, Bishop Secondo Bologna, an an unkent nummer o fowk wur injured in the intensive bombardment. The occupation bi the Canadian troops, an the admeenistrative an poleetical control resultin, haed sic an impact on the toun that it became kent as “Canadae Toun” or “Maple Leaf Ceety”.

In 1995 the ceety wis awardit the Bronze Medal for Ceevil Valour in recognition o the haurd wirk done in clearin the region o dangerous unexplodit warheids, a task that lastit well intae 1948.

Main sichts eedit

The main attraction o Campobasso is the Castello Monforte, biggit in 1450 bi the local ruler Nicola II Monforte, ower Lombard or Norman ruins. The castle haes Guelph merlons an staunds on a commandin pynt, whaur traces o auncient settlements (includin Samnite waws) hae been foond. The current construction is the result o later rebiggins efter the earthquakes o 1456 an 1805.

Next tae the castle is the Chiesa della Madonna del Monte (Santa Maria Maggiore), erectit in the 11t century an rebuilt in 1525. It hooses a precious widden statue o the Incoronata frae 1334. Belaw the castle, the kirk o St. George is probably the auldest in Campobasso, biggit aroond the year 1000 AD ower the ruins o a Pagan temple.

The Cathedral, or Chiesa della Santissima Trinità (Kirk o the Holy Trinity), wis biggit in 1504 ootside the ceety waws. It wis destroyed bi an yirdquauk in 1805 an a new Neoclassical edifice wis biggit in 1829.

The kirk o San Bartolomeo is a Romanesque biggin frae the 11t century, in limestane. The interior haes a nave an twa aisles.

San Leonardo (14t century) haes a façade mixin Gothic an Romanesque elements, an a side mullioned windae wi vegetable decorations influenced bi the Apulian airchitectur o the period.

Villa de Capoa, recently restored, is a noteworthy gairden wi statues an a wide variety o plant species, includin sequoias, Norawa Spruces, cypresses an Lebanon Cedars.

Transportation eedit

Railways eedit

Campobasso railway station, which is managed bi Centostazioni, is locatit in the centre o the ceety at the junction o twa lines: that frae Termoli tae Vairano an the branch frae Benevento. Aw trains stap at Campobasso, givin guid connections tae Roum, Naples, an Pescara. In the future thare will be some modification o the railwey seestem includin:

  • The construction o a railwey that will connect Lucera an Campobasso, as the oreeginal project o the actual railway frae Foggia tae Lucera stated;
  • The construction o a licht railway atween the stations o Boiano an Campolieto, passing throw Campobasso wi five new urban stations.

Roads an heich-gates eedit

Road traffeck is regulatit bi the State Roa Sannitica, bi the State Road SS645 Del Tappino an bi the State Road 647 Fondo Valle del Biferno.

Recently the Molise region an the Anas hae been unifee'd intae the Autostrade del Molise S.p.A. tae complete the Termoli - San Vittore Heich-gate which will connect the ceety tae San Vittore del Lazio, reducin traivel times frae an tae Roum.

Public transport eedit

The urban public transport consists o 23 lines o autobus managed bi the SEAC company.

Twin towns — sister ceeties eedit

Campobasso is twinned wi:

Notable fowk eedit

See an aw eedit

Freemit airtins eedit

  Media relatit tae Campobasso at Wikimedia Commons