The name Pesculum Lanzanum comes from Pesculum (=big rock) and Lanzanum (the name of a Roman family), and the origin of the settlement goes back to the 4th century BC, when the Samnites made a fortress here to fight the Romans. The present settlement took origin however under the Norman occupation, when the massive castle was built. Later on, when the transhumance economy began to develop, Pescolanciano was an important resting site for the sheep flocks and the shephers. Under Frederick II given to Teodino from Pescolanciano, who was appointed "Giustiziere" of the Molise Countdom, to pass later under the rule of the Evoli, Carafa and finally, in the 16th century, the D'Alessandro family, among whose members there were such prominent figures as a councilor of Charles I Anjouu and jurist Antonio D' Alessandro, an ambassador of King of Naples Ferdinand I of Aragon in European courts.
In 1756 Duke Pasquale d' Alessandro started in his castle a maiolica workshop, which obtained such great success to threaten the Capodimonte Royal Factory. As a consequence in the 19th century the Neapolitans ordered the destruction of the Pescolanciano maiolica center, whose very few, precious surviving pieces are today in the Louvre, Paris.
Typical of the place is the polenta, prepared according to many different, exquisite recipes: Polenta with beans, white polenta bianca with fresh cheese, pand other preparations with local white and black truffle, porcini mushrooms, or the "polenta infornata".
