"An immersive experience of great charm. The Mario Pagano National Boarding School is a treasure trove of beauty and art, some unexpected. The tour, led by experts from the "Enzo Nocera" Cultural Observatory of the "MoliseRadici" Association, allowed us to appreciate the richness of an institution that is so precious to the city of Campobasso. The cultural tours through the corridors and rooms revealed its historical and artistic treasures, works of faith, and exquisite craftsmanship, in all their prestige. Many artists were recognized in the cultural sphere. This is a valuable and much-appreciated initiative, promoted by the Boarding School, to promote awareness of the significant heritage it preserves."

Maria Pantalea Morello

"Ancient school.
It was initially called the "Sannitico College" on March 12, 1816, and was located in the Antonian Monastery because it was unsuitable as a school building. After completing the necessary renovations, the college was inaugurated on November 16 of the following year, taking on the prefix "Real" by royal decree of January 25, 1854. The college remained closed until early 1857, when Canon Berardo Palombieri was appointed its director, elevating it to a high school. On March 4, 1865, at the suggestion of the Ministry of Education, with a decree signed in Milan by King Victor Emmanuel II, the college took its current name of "Mario Pagano" National Boarding School, in honor of the Italian jurist, politician, and patriot Mario Pagano.
Ciao from Roby and Lucy from Sant'Anastasia (Naples)"

ROBERTO RIVIECCIO

"Convitto Mario Pagano, a National Monument "School"

The Convitto Nazionale Mario Pagano in Campobasso is much more than an educational institution: it is a true national monument, embodying over two centuries of history, culture, and education in the heart of Molise. Founded as the "Collegio Sannitico" by decree of March 12, 1816, and inaugurated on November 16, 1817, in the former Antoniani monastery, the institution took the name "Royal Collegio Sannitico" in 1854. On March 4, 1865, by decree of Vittorio Emanuele II, it was renamed in honor of Francesco Mario Pagano, jurist, Enlightenment philosopher, and martyr of the Neapolitan Republic of 1799, a symbolic figure of the revolutionary and republican attempt.

One of the Convitto's treasures is its garden, planted in the late 19th century and considered a botanical jewel. Surrounded by an artistic fence, it is home to rare and valuable species such as the giant sequoia, the Lebanese cedar, the yew, and the Ginkgo biloba, making it an ornament for the city and a place for naturalistic study. Documented in the 1926 Yearbook, the garden not only enhances the building's architecture but also represents an oasis of biodiversity overlooking Via Mazzini and Piazza Gabriele Pepe, making the Convitto an aesthetic and environmental landmark.

The Convitto preserves an artistic heritage of extraordinary value, which enriches its spaces and underscores its cultural role. In the chapel, three frescoes by Amedeo Trivisonno and two 18th-century Florentine paintings, deposited by the Uffizi in 1897, capture the attention. A Nativity scene, located on the altar, recalls the 18th-century Venetian style and was loaned by the Galleria dell'Accademia in Venice. In the main hall, paintings by Romeo Musa and Marcello Scarano illustrate Molise customs and traditions, while in the rector's office, two works by Nicola Scarano stand out, and numerous other paintings by local artists such as Casertano, Pettinicchi, Guacci, and Fratianni adorn the corridors and foyer, along with prints by Alfredo Trombetta and commemorative plaques dedicated to figures such as Achille Sannia, Guido Pittarelli, and the boarders who fell in the Great War.

The Convitto has hosted distinguished students and faculty, but the most famous figure is Giovanni Gentile, an idealistic philosopher and Minister of Education during the twenty-year period. He taught philosophy at the gymnasium from 1899 to 1901. Gentile, commemorated with a portrait at the institute, contributed to raising the Convitto's prestige, leaving a significant mark on its educational history. His 1923 school reform, known as the "Gentile Reform," transformed the Italian education system, emphasizing humanistic education and state access to education, principles that also influenced the evolution of the Convitto. Other illustrious figures include mathematicians such as Giacobbe Mola and boarders such as Leopoldo Montini and Enrico Muricchio, both recipients of gold medals for military valor.

The Convitto Mario Pagano is not just an educational institution, but a place of memory and culture, open to the public with the "Domenica al Convitto" project. Its history, artwork, garden, and the people who have passed through it make it a national monument, a crossroads between tradition and modernity. Although accessibility could be improved for visitors with limited mobility, the experience of visiting this place is unique, a journey through the history of Molise and Italy. The symbolic entrance fee and the hospitality of the staff make the visit an unmissable opportunity for students, tourists, and enthusiasts."

Andrea Grosso