The characteristic of this small town located about eight hundred meters above sea level is to have its name changed several times over the centuries. For once, when the village was under the feudal rule of the soldier Oderisio, Malanotte whose name later changed into Buonanotte-Goodnight. The reason for the change, according to local tradition, has to be found in an episode of war between geographically close populations, hostile to futile causes. The inhabitants of Malanotte, therefore, defeated their opponents, by forcing to undergo an odious deceit, paying a unique tribute: give in to the enemies, for one night, the women residents in the country. Hence a double interpretation of the new name: if for the locals, offended their honor in men, that was really a "bad night" for the winners, however, it was a "good night". But to this first changing name followed another, decreed in 1969, perhaps to erase once and for all the odious episode in local history: from Buonanotte-Goodnight it changed into "Montebello sul Sangro", which reflects well the attractively overview position  of the village. Its village is divided into two parts: a saddle perched on rocky top, there is the "old country", dominated by the ruins of an ancient castle, which recalls the days of feudal domination; hit by landslides and subsidence, is now completely abandoned, while lower down, in a safest position in terms of geology, has arisen the "new country".