Santuario italico di Pietrabbondante
The most important sanctuary of the Pentri Samnites, on Monte Caraceno, with a theatre, Temples A and B and porticoes, in an open archaeological site.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The sanctuary of Pietrabbondante stands at about 1,000 metres above sea level, on the southern slope of Monte Caraceno, above the Trigno valley. It is the most important architectural evidence of Samnite religion and is considered the federal cult centre of the Pentri tribe. The first structures date from the 5th to 4th centuries BC; the monumental phase, of Hellenistic-Italic character, belongs to the 2nd century BC.
The complex centres on the theatre, the best-preserved building, with a semicircular cavea of local limestone and lateral supports decorated with telamones, and on Temple B, the largest building erected by the Samnites, a three-cella temple on a high podium. Temple A, smaller and older, represents the original core of the sanctuary; porticoes and service rooms complete the area. Inscriptions in Oscan commemorate the magistrates who financed the constructions.
The sanctuary was damaged during the Hannibalic War and then rebuilt, and it reached its greatest splendour before the Social War (91-88 BC); after this phase its decline began, until its final abandonment in late antiquity. The first excavations date to the mid-19th century, in the Bourbon era, while from 1959 the research of the Soprintendenza led by Valerio Cianfarani resulted in the discovery of the great Temple B.
Today the archaeological area is managed by the Ministry of Culture through the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Molise and is open to the public; in summer it also hosts theatre performances.
Highlights
- Samnite theatre with telamones and cavea of local stone
- Temple B, the largest building erected by the Samnites
- Temple A, the oldest core of the sanctuary
- Oscan inscriptions of the magistrates
- View over the Trigno valley
Permanent exhibition
- Area archeologica del santuario – Route among the theatre, Temple A, Temple B, porticoes and rooms of the Samnite sanctuary.
- Founded
- -150
- Operated by
- Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Molise (Ministero della Cultura)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 14,341
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Citizens of the European Union aged 18 to 25, under the general rule for state museums |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission under 18, under the general rule for state museums. |
| Combined ticket with the Museo archeologico Santa Maria delle Monache in Isernia | €8 |
Tickets are bought at the site's ticket office or online via the Musei Italiani portal (museiitaliani.it) and its app.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Large car park at the site entrance.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours and workshops are to be requested from the service concessionaire, the Associazione MeMO Cantieri Culturali. |
