The village is situated on a hill at the foot of Mount Carfarello, surrounded by a lush natural environment rich in fauna.
There are several hypotheses regarding the origin of the name ‘Molinara’:
- the first hypothesis is based on the presence of several water mills in the area,
- the second hypothesis derives from the fact that in the past, skilled stonemasons supplied the nearby municipalities with millstones,
- the third hypothesis derives from the fact that the original name of the village was ‘Castello Montis Hilarii’,
- the fourth and final hypothesis is that the name derives from ‘moria elaia’ meaning ‘sacred olive tree’.
The first ascertained and documented information dates back to 1118 in Norman times, when the owner was Raimondo di Loritello. Subsequently, it was a fief of the De Capua and Caracciolo and Carafa families. The last possessor of the feud was the Muscettola family, who maintained its rights until the abolition of the feudal system. Molinara became part of the province of Benevento after the unification of Italy.
Severely damaged by the earthquakes of 1962 and 1980, the town was completely rebuilt from the ground up as residents abandoned the old centre characterised by narrow streets, open spaces and noble palaces. The old town centre is still being renovated and revitalised.
Today, the municipality of Molinara has about 1,500 inhabitants. Local production consists mainly of olive oil and sheep farming.