Isernia

Sister cities

• Douz

History

The city's Roman name, Aesernia, reflects probably a former Samnite toponym, but a connection to an Indo-European root, aeser, which means "water", is tenuous. Classical Aesernia was a city of Samnium, included within the territory of the Pentri tribe, situated in the valley of the Vulturnus (modern Volturno), on a small stream flowing into that river, and distant from Venafrum (modern Venafro). The Itinerary (in which the name is written "Serni") places it on the road from Aufidena to Bovianum, at the distance of from the former, and from the latter; but the former number is corrupt, as are the distances in the Tabula Peutingeriana. The first mention of it in history occurs in 295 BC, at which time it had already fallen into the hands of the Romans, together with the whole valley of the Vulturnus. After the complete subjugation of the Samnites, a colony, with Latin rights (colonia Latina) was settled there by the Romans in 264 BC the city, a key communication center between southern Italy and the inner Regions. This colony is again mentioned in 209 BC as one of the eighteen which remained faithful to Rome at the most trying period of the Second Punic War. During the Social War it adhered to the Roman cause, and was gallantly defended against the Samnite general Vettius Scato, by Marcus Claudius Marcellus, nor was it till after a long protracted siege that it was compelled by famine to surrender, 90 BC. Henceforth it continued in the hands of the confederates; and at a later period of the contest afforded a shelter to the Samnite leader, Gaius Papius Mutilus, after his defeat by Lucius Cornelius Sulla. It even became for a time, after the successive fall of Corfinium (modern Corfinio) and Bovianum, the headquarters of the Italic League. At this time it was…

Geography

Situated on a rocky crest rising from between the Carpino and the Sordo rivers, the plan of Isernia still reflects the ancient layout of the Roman town, with a central wide street, the cardo maximus, still represented by Corso Marcelli, and side streets at right angles on both sides. The comune of Isernia includes 16 frazioni. The most densely populated is Castelromano which is positioned in a plain at the base of the La Romana mount, elevation , from Isernia. According to the Köppen climate classification, Isernia experiences a mid-latitude humid subtropical climate (Cfa) bordering on a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa), if the alternative criteria of <40mm mean precipitation in the driest month is used.

Most-observed species

• Tree-of-Heaven

  Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle · Magnoliopsida
  135
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  108
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  108
• Eurasian Blackcap

  Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  105
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  104
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  103
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  92
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  92

Most recent

• M 4.5 — 2026-07-31
  0 km WSW of Torre Caracciolo, Italy
• M 4.4 — 2026-07-24
  5 km W of Pizzone, Italy
• M 4.1 — 2026-05-21
  2 km E of Procida, Italy
• M 4.4 — 2025-10-25
  3 km WNW of Summonte, Italy
• M 4 — 2025-10-24
  0 km SSE of Torrioni, Italy
• M 4 — 2025-05-13
  2 km N of Bacoli, Italy