Campomarino

Molise, Italy

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Campomarino is a charming coastal comune in the Molise region of southern Italy, located in the Province of Campobasso about 50 kilometers northeast of Campobasso and 5 kilometers southeast of Termoli on the Adriatic Sea.

The town consists of two parts: the historic hilltop village of Campomarino and the seaside resort of Campomarino Lido, which stretches along the coast just above sea level. Campomarino is famous for its long, wide sandy beach with clear waters that has earned Blue Flag status for water quality and safety, making it a popular summer destination.

The commune is particularly known for its high-quality olive oil and wine production, especially the Doc Biferno wines (red, white, and rosé) made from Montepulciano and Trebbiano Toscano grapes, and it is considered the town of wine in Molise, producing the native Tintilia variety.

A significant portion of the population (around 8,000 people) is of Arbëreshë (Albanian) origin, descendants who fled Ottoman occupation in the Balkans, and the town is called Këmarini in the Arbëreshë language, with murals throughout the old town illustrating this heritage. The most important historical site is the Church of Santa Maria a Mare, a Romanesque-origin church extensively remodeled in the 18th century that retains frescoes and refined capitals in its crypt, with the oldest remains of the town concentrated near this church inland.