Molise |
Molise is a gentle region of southern Italy with unspoilt beaches, a sparse population and an unhurried pace. Its neighbours are the regions of Abruzzo, Lazio, Campania and Puglia, with an Adriatic coastline to its north east.
The 35km-long Riviera Molisiana's gorgeous sandy beaches are watched over by towers that once guarded against Saracen attacks. The seaside town of Termoli is the liveliest, with a castle and old town walls, and it is reputed to have the narrowest street in Italy.
Just a few kilometres on from Termoli you reach Petacciato Marina, famous for its unusual wooden "trabucchi" fishing devices. Crab-like "pincers" reach out into the sea, holding fishing nets that allowed fishermen to continue fishing even in the roughest conditions without having to risk their lives on boats at sea.
Campobasso, the principal city, is surrounded by the beautiful Sannio and Matese mountains. It has a wonderfully-preserved medieval centre including the Castello Monforte, built in 1450, and numerous churches.
Medieval hilltop towns abound in the area around Larino, and Larino itself is one of the most beautiful towns in the province, with pretty pastel-coloured houses. The elliptical Roman amphitheatre in the upper town was constructed in the 1st century AD to seat some 12,000 spectators, built into the natural contours of the landscape.
The Abbazia di San Vincenzo al Volturno Benedictine monastery in Isernia is famous for its Byzantine frescoes, while the Monti del Matese chain of the Apennines provide good skiing, hiking and cycling.
Molise is one of Italy's most overlooked regions, but for those that discover it the area offers an authenticity that's lacking in more popular places, and a great sense of space and tranquillity.