ITS FOOD & DRINK
Maccheroni alla chitarra or pallotte cacio e uova (eggs, breadcrumb, peeled tomatoes and semi-fresh cow or sheeps cheese). Food lovers are spoilt for choice in attempting to decree the most savoury dish in Molise. In fact, the region features a great many representative dishes and products: from the fior di latte of Boiano to polenta, not to mention the turcinelli arrostiti (lamb entrails wrapped spool-like enclosing the giblets of the same animal), pasta e fagioli [pasta with beans] and stracciata (braided fresh cheese which becomes spreadable as it ages). And caciocavallo from Agnone, along with the most varied pork meat salami: saggicciotti, liver sausage and soppressate from Rionero Sannitico, ventricina from Montenero di Bisaccia and pampanella (oven baked pork belly with chilly peppers). Among the region's delicacies are extra virgin olive oil, pasta made from hard wheat semolina, and truffles from Isernia, as well as Biferno and Pentro wines. Sweets deserve a chapter all their own, headed by mostarda d'uva (a typical country made grape jam), eaten as is by the spoonful or combined with biscuits and desserts. Cauciuni (sweets filled with a chickpea dough), ostie farcite (wafers filled with walnuts and almonds), peccellate (filled with cooked must or jam) and cippillati (oven baked ravioli with an amarena sour cherry jam filling) are just some of the tasty dainty morsels presented at the end of a fine meal.
ITS SIGHTS
A small 'ancient world' suspended between the seaside, history, nature and tradition. A region to discover day by day, without ever taking anything for granted. Those seeking crystal clear shoals and turquoise blue waters can rely on the beauty of the Tremiti - or Diomedes Islands (San Nicola, Capraia and San Domino), a valid alternative to the more affordable beaches of Termoli and Campomarino. Winter sports enthusiasts can opt for the peaks of Campitello Matese, one of the most important skiing localities in central and southern Italy (also recommended for springtime outings), while animal lovers have an embarrassment of riches in the Nature Reserves of Montedimezzo, which is home to foxes and wild cats, Collemeluccio, with its squirrels and marten, and Pesche, where weasels, polecats and dormouse run about freely. Closing the circle is the Lipu Oasis of Casacalenda, a protected refuge for badgers and spectacled salamander. But thats not all. Around these parts, lovers of magical Christmas season atmosphere will find a world of entertainment, from the Museum of the Zampogna [shepherd's pipes] at Scapoli (Isernia), with examples of instruments from various epochs and several nations (Spanish, Scottish and Swiss), and the permanent museum of the presepe [manger scenes] in Campobasso, hosting over 400 nativity scenes tied to Neapolitan tradition from the 1700s to the present day. Finally, history lovers will want to head up to the museum at Venafro where, among the numerous archaeological finds of the pre-Roman and Roman eras is the stone memorial bearing the edict of Augustus on the local aqueduct. |
