A village of stonemasons and decorators above the Biferno valley
On a rocky spur a few kilometres from Campobasso, overlooking the valley of the Biferno river, Oratino is one of the most charming villages of Molise, one of the "Borghi più belli d'Italia", known as the "village of artists" for its long tradition of stonemasons, sculptors, painters and decorators, who between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries worked in churches and palaces throughout Molise and southern Italy. Their skill can still be seen in the village, in the carved stone portals of the houses, with coats of arms, rosettes, masks and inscriptions, in the fountains and in the decorations of the churches, such as the Chiesa Madre di Santa Maria Assunta, with frescoes and stuccoes by local artists, among whom the painter Ciriaco Brunetti.
The village is dominated by the Rocca, a medieval tower perched on a rock overlooking the valley, from which the view sweeps over the hills, the Biferno and the mountains of the Matese, especially beautiful at sunset. Walking through Oratino's lanes, among stone houses, flowered balconies and small squares, you discover a quiet and authentic village, where time seems to have stopped. The Palazzo Giordano, the noble palace of the barons, preserves frescoed rooms. In the surroundings, there are paths through the countryside and woods, and the small church of the Madonna di Loreto. Oratino also hosts summer events dedicated to art, music and local traditions, and the cuisine of the village offers typical Molise dishes, such as cavatelli and lamb.
Tip: look for the carved portals as you walk through the village; watch the sunset from the Rocca over the Biferno valley.
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