The best running trails around Montenero Di Bisaccia

Strolling along the Cristoforo Colombo seafront, you can indulge in a regenerating break, lulled by the breeze and the colors of the Adriatic coast.

Also known as Torre di Vialante

From this stretch of the provincial road you can enjoy the view towards the village of Montenero di Bisaccia and the Calanchi di Montenero, an area of about 120 hectares, where there are erosive forms created by the action of rainwater on the clayey soil. The area is a site of community interest (SIC), identified by the Ministry of the Environment for its naturalistic and landscape importance.

The cave of the Madonna di Bisaccia is a natural cavity located a few hundred meters from the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Bisaccia. It is an ancient sacred monument, where the first Christians who lived in the area gathered to venerate a Byzantine painting of the Madonna and Child, later transferred to the sanctuary.

Montenero di Bisaccia is a town in Molise located on a hill 10 km from the sea and the Trigno river. It is possible to visit the Mother Church, the Municipal Palace and just outside the historic centre, the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima di Bisaccia.

This is the Torre di Vialante, however known mainly by the name of Torre di Montebello. It is one of the many coastal towers built to defend the coasts from Turkish attacks. It may have been built by the Normans and then restored by Frederick II, however it is prior to 1500.

The Torre di Vialante, better known as Torre di Montebello, is located in the Contrada di Montebello, about 12 km from the town of Montenero di Bisaccia. Given its position, a short distance from the sea and on the right side of the Trigno River, the tower had a function of defense and control of the entire Molise coast. In fact, it was in connection with the coastal towers of Termoli and Petacciato and together they better watched the coast from Turkish attacks. The Montebello Tower was built over the ruins of the old Montenero Castle, with the aim of defending and raising the alarm during the long period of Saracen raids. It is assumed that it was built by the Normans, restored by Frederick II and completely rebuilt in the 16th century, under the rule of Charles V. The tower has a square plan with an access stairway and battlements and corbels that surround the upper frame. Its architectural form is found in numerous Apulian towers. It is divided into three levels: the first two covered by barrel vaults and connected internally by a sandstone spiral staircase, the other is a terrace with a vault crowned with battlements. In order to access the tower, there is a flight of stairs that leads to the entrance door, above which stood the coat of arms of the Battiloro family until 1953. On the main wall there are evident traces of a drawbridge, probably in place of the 'current external staircase. The wall surfaces are almost completely compact: they have four rectangular windows with semi-archs, outlined by strongly splayed terracotta bricks and distributed one on each side at different levels of height, a single lancet window opening to the north-west and two doors respectively on the north sides -west and southeast.