The Province of Isernia () is a province in the region of Molise in southern Italy. The provincial capital is the city of Isernia and the president of the province is Alfredo Ricci.

The province has a population of 78,217 in an area of across its 52 municipalities.

In Molise County, Benedictines formed the San Vincenzo al Volturno monastery in the province of Isernia after Rome fell in 476. When the area was invaded by the Muslims, 500 to 900 monks were decapitated by them and many were taken as slaves; despite this, the monastery continued to function and reached its peak size during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Pope Celestine V was born near Isernia and the province's feast day is on 19 May, the date Celestine V was canonized. An earthquake in 1805 destroyed Isernia's cathedral, which was rebuilt atop the ruins of the destroyed structure in 1837.

Geography

thumb|The Samnite amphitheatre of [[Pietrabbondante]]

The province of Isernia is a largely mountainous area of Southern Italy, part of the region of Molise. To the southwest the mountains decrease in height and the wooded hills give way to the plains around Venafro. To the northeast is the province of Campobasso, also part of Molise, and to the north the provinces of L'Aquila and Chieti, both in the region of Abruzzo. To the west is the province of Frosinone in Lazio and to the south the province of Caserta in Campania. The lake of Castel San Vincenzo is a man-made reservoir built to power a hydroelectric scheme.

The economy of the region has been traditionally based on agriculture. The holdings are mostly small and produce grapes, cereals, olives, vegetables, fruit and dairy products. Traditional products grown in the province include grass peas (Lathyrus sativus) and farro, which is made from a specialist form of wheat. Tintilia grapes are grown for the production of the region's red wine, the "Tintilia del Molise".

Municipalities

  • Acquaviva d'Isernia
  • Agnone
  • Bagnoli del Trigno
  • Belmonte del Sannio
  • Cantalupo nel Sannio
  • Capracotta
  • Carovilli
  • Carpinone
  • Castel del Giudice
  • Castel San Vincenzo
  • Castelpetroso
  • Castelpizzuto
  • Castelverrino
  • Cerro al Volturno
  • Chiauci
  • Civitanova del Sannio
  • Colli a Volturno
  • Conca Casale
  • Filignano
  • Forlì del Sannio
  • Fornelli
  • Frosolone
  • Isernia
  • Longano
  • Macchia d'Isernia
  • Macchiagodena
  • Miranda
  • Montaquila
  • Montenero Val Cocchiara
  • Monteroduni
  • Pesche
  • Pescolanciano
  • Pescopennataro
  • Pettoranello del Molise
  • Pietrabbondante
  • Pizzone
  • Poggio Sannita
  • Pozzilli
  • Rionero Sannitico
  • Roccamandolfi
  • Roccasicura
  • Rocchetta a Volturno
  • San Pietro Avellana
  • Sant'Agapito
  • Sant'Angelo del Pesco
  • Sant'Elena Sannita
  • Santa Maria del Molise
  • Scapoli
  • Sessano del Molise
  • Sesto Campano
  • Vastogirardi
  • Venafro

Demographics

As of 2026, the population is 78,217, of which 50.1% are male, and 49.9% are female. Minors make up 12.8% of the population, and seniors make up 28.5%.

Immigration

As of 2025, of the known countries of birth of 76,917 residents, the most numerous are: Italy (71,607 – 93.1%), Romania (711 – 0.9%), Morocco (450 – 0.6%).

References

  • Official website