Campobasso

The city was founded before the 8th century as a garrison town. It is famous for its craftsmanship in producing steel blades, and has a population of around 52,000. The name Campobasso means, literally, "Lowfield." But don't be fooled by the name, as the city is in the mountains with an elevation of 868 meters, and can actually be quite cold in the winter.

Regular train service connects this Italian regional capital with the slightly-better-known national capital, Rome.

• Castello Monforte