The Village   

Pietracatella is a small village set in lower Molise. It is part of the province of Campobasso, the region capital and borders the province of Foggia in the nearby region of Apulia.

Pietarcatella, at about 725m above sea level, is perched on a rocky spur of tuff that the local people, the Pietracatellesi, call Morgia (the rock). A spectacular and vast landscape can be seen from the top of the rock. Pietracatella looks over the vale of Tappino and to eastern side of the village lie Lake Occhito and the nearest towns of Apulia. To the west one can see the region capital, Campobasso, and to the south the neighbouring hilltowns.

From the top of the Morgia the village spreads downhill in a fan-shaped way to the bottom of the rock. According to tradition Pietarcatella was founded in the 15th century when the two settlements of Petra, the actual site, and Catella, being a few kilometres away, became one. More likely however, following the earthquake of 1456 the residents of Catella moved to Pietra originating the larger village of Predicatiello (joining Petra and Catella).

Of the impressive castle that in the past towered over the village, nowadays just the ruins are left. Situated next to the ruins is the important Church of San Giacomo Apostolo, with an adjacent 11th-cenutry crypt devoted to St Margaret.

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