Molise is one of Italy's smallest and least-touristy regions, a hidden corner of the central Apennines where Roman ruins, Samnite sanctuaries, mountain villages, and a short stretch of Adriatic coast remain remarkably unspoiled. Split from Abruzzo in 1963, it rewards travellers seeking authentic Italy without the crowds.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Marinelli Bronze Bell
A handcrafted bronze souvenir bell from the millennium-old Pontificia Fonderia Marinelli in Agnone, each bearing the Marinelli signature and a true bronze tone. Small bells can be personalised with short engravings.
Price: €20-200+ / USD 22-216+
Where: Marinelli foundry museum shop, Agnone
Frosolone Knife or Scissors
A hand-forged folding knife, kitchen knife or pair of tailoring scissors from Frosolone, made using a centuries-old tradition of forging cutting tools.
Price: €25-200+ / USD 27-216+
Where: Knife and cutlery workshops in Frosolone
Tintilia del Molise Wine
A bottle of the region's signature indigenous red, bold and full-bodied, rarely found outside Molise.
Price: €8-25 / USD 9-27 per bottle
Where: Cantine such as Catabbo / enoteche in Campobasso and Termoli
Caciocavallo di Agnone
A teardrop-shaped, aged cow's-milk cheese that is one of Molise's emblematic foods, rich and savoury and good for travel when vacuum-packed.
Price: €10-20 / USD 11-22 per kg
Where: Caseifici such as Di Nucci in Agnone / markets
Molise Truffle Products
Preserved truffle oils, creams and sauces from one of Italy's most productive truffle regions, with fresh truffles available in season.
Price: €6-30 / USD 7-32
Where: Specialist food shops and truffle producers around Busso
Ventricina Cured Salami
A coarsely cut, spicy Molise salami, an emblematic local cured meat best carried home vacuum-packed.
Price: €12-25 / USD 13-27 per kg
Where: Butchers and food shops across Molise
Molise Extra Virgin Olive Oil (DOP)
Robust, fruity extra virgin olive oil, including DOP Molise oil, from groves across both provinces. An affordable, authentic gift.
Price: €8-18 / USD 9-19 per bottle
Where: Frantoi, farm shops, and markets
Agnone Copperware
Hand-hammered copper pots and decorative pieces from Agnone's centuries-old copper tradition.
Price: €20-150+ / USD 22-162+
Where: Artisan workshops in Agnone
Agnone Bobbin Lace (Merletto a Tombolo)
Delicate handmade bobbin lace from Agnone, a traditional craft producing fine decorative pieces.
Price: €15-100+ / USD 16-108+
Where: Craft shops and lace-makers in Agnone
Molise Ceramics
Hand-painted ceramics and terracotta in rustic traditional styles, from plates to tiles and tableware, that make packable gifts.
Price: €10-120+ / USD 11-130+
Where: Craft shops in Campobasso, Termoli, and village artisans
Termoli Artisan Jewellery
Handcrafted jewellery from Termoli's old-town ateliers, often inspired by the sea and the town's maritime heritage.
Price: €30-500+ / USD 32-540+
Where: Jewellery shops in Termoli's Borgo Antico
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mercato Settimanale di Campobasso (Weekly Market)
Campobasso's large weekly open-air market, with stalls selling clothing, household goods and a wide range of local food including cheeses, cured meats and seasonal produce. The biggest regular market in the region.
Where: Campobasso city area, 86100 Campobasso CB
Hours: Weekly market mornings (approx. 8:00-13:30)
Mercato Settimanale di Termoli (Weekly Market)
Termoli's weekly street market, drawing locals and summer visitors with stalls of clothing, household goods, fresh fish from the Adriatic, cheeses and local food products.
Where: Termoli, 86039 Termoli CB
Hours: Weekly market mornings (approx. 8:00-13:30)
Termoli Saturday Artisan Market
A weekly artisan market in Termoli's old town where local artists and makers show paintings, ceramics and handmade crafts, an ideal place to find a unique souvenir from the coast.
Where: Borgo Antico, 86039 Termoli CB
Hours: Saturdays (seasonal, daytime)
Mercato Settimanale di Isernia (Weekly Market)
Isernia's weekly market in the western province, a good place to buy local cheeses, cured meats, fruit and vegetables and everyday goods alongside clothing stalls.
Where: Isernia, 86170 Isernia IS
Hours: Weekly market mornings (approx. 8:00-13:00)
Agnone Market and Craft Streets
Agnone's weekly market and the craft shops along its historic streets offer local cheeses such as caciocavallo, food products, beaten copperware and souvenir bells from the famous foundry town.
Where: Agnone, 86081 Agnone IS
Hours: Weekly market mornings plus year-round craft shops
Mercatino dei Prodotti Tipici (Local Produce Markets)
Seasonal farmers' and local-produce markets held in town squares around Molise, selling Tintilia wine, honey, truffles, olive oil, cheeses and other regional specialities direct from producers.
Where: Town squares across Molise (Campobasso, Termoli, Larino)
Hours: Seasonal, often weekend mornings
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Centro Commerciale Monforte
A modern shopping centre serving Campobasso and its surroundings, with high-street fashion, electronics, services and a large supermarket under one roof, the main mall option in the regional capital.
Hours: Approx. Mon-Sun 9:00-21:00
Coastal Retail and Supermarkets, Termoli
Retail and shopping-centre outlets on the edge of Termoli provide supermarkets, fashion stores and everyday goods, convenient for stocking up while staying on the coast.
Hours: Approx. Mon-Sun 9:00-21:00
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is not customary in shops, where prices are fixed
At weekly markets, modest haggling on clothing and household goods is sometimes accepted
Buying several items from one artisan or market stall may earn a small discount
Food and wine prices are generally fixed, but buying by the case at a cantina can lower the per-bottle cost
Paying in cash is welcomed at markets and small workshops
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Cheese and cured meats should be vacuum-packed and carried in checked luggage when flying, Knives from Frosolone must go in checked baggage, never carry-on, EU travellers can carry food and wine freely within the EU within personal-use limits, Non-EU travellers should check their home country's limits on meat, dairy and alcohol imports, Keep receipts for high-value craft items such as bells, copper or jewellery for customs, Many small shops and workshops are closed for the afternoon riposo and on Sunday afternoons