Molise · Isernia
Pizzone
A 313-person Mainarde village at 724 meters in the Molise sector of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, above the Volturno springs.
Known for
PARK SECTOR
Pizzone ceded four thousand hectares to the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise in 1990 to create the Mainarde sector.
MAINARDE
Limestone range on the Abruzzo-Molise border, the geographic anchor of the village and the highest country in this corner of Molise.
PIANORO DELLE FORME
Karst plateau on the commune's territory, a signature high meadow of the southern Apennines used for summer pasture.
When to visit
Best · May–Oct
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Why come
Pizzone sits at 724 meters on the eastern flank of the Mainarde, the limestone range that closes the northern edge of Molise against the Abruzzo border. In 1990 the commune ceded part of its territory to the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, together with Castel San Vincenzo, Rocchetta a Volturno, Filignano and Scapoli; the resulting Mainarde sector added four thousand hectares of high pasture and beech forest to the park. The karst plateau of Forme, on Pizzone's territory, is one of the signature high meadows of the southern Apennines.
The Volturno springs at the foot of the range and the Rio Jemmare that crosses Pizzone feed the Castel San Vincenzo lake just below. The village itself is small, 313 residents, stone houses on a ridge under the peaks. Most visitors come for the park, the lake and the abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno a few kilometers north.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Pizzone’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
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What to see
Mainarde
Limestone mountain range on the Abruzzo-Molise border, the Molise sector of the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise.
Pianoro delle Forme
Karst high meadow on Pizzone's territory, one of the signature plateaus of the southern Apennines and a summer pasture for grazing flocks.
Lago di Castel San Vincenzo
Turquoise artificial lake fed by the Volturno springs at the foot of the Mainarde, four kilometers downhill from the village.
Chiesa di San Marco Evangelista
Parish church of the village, with stone façade and bell tower, the centre of life for the 313 residents.
The slow-trip planner
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Living here
- Population 313
- Off the beaten pathi
- Pharmacy: none mapped
- Nearest high school over ~30 minutes away
- Nearest airport Naples / Salerno, 1 h 51 min drive
- Regional capital Campobasso, 1 h 31 min drive
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 724 m
- Population: 313
- Surface area: 33.49 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories — ISTAT, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata — and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
Close by
More towns near Pizzone
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