Frammenti d'Antico – Festa di Santa Caterina

A village that returns to the Middle Ages

Frammenti d'Antico is the most important historical reenactment in Bagnoli del Trigno, a village in the province of Isernia known as the Pearl of Molise for the way its houses nestle among huge rocks and around the castle. Every year, on August 18th, the feast of Saint Catherine becomes an opportunity to bring atmospheres, stories, and legends of yesteryear back to life.

The procession, the podestà, and the ducats

The Duke and the nobles emerge in procession from the castle and parade through the village streets to the square, where the heads of families elect the two podestà using the ancient system of beans and chickpeas. Medieval gastronomy unfolds in the streets: you eat and drink by paying with a dedicated currency, the ducat, in a setting meticulously recreated with costumes, crafts, and taverns.

The Flight of the Fairy Trignina

Legend has it that fairies emerge from the castle at night, and those who manage to spot them can make a wish. The festival culminates at midnight with the Flight of the Fairy Trignina, who descends from the castle towards the village, accompanied by a fireworks display simulating the burning of the castle. The event is registered in the Register of Historical Reenactments of the Ministry of Culture and attracts thousands of visitors from all over Molise.