Molise and Southern Abruzzo - Does it have to be a secret ?
 

Last night we watched the Abruzzo and Molise travel video from the wonderful Magnifica Italia series in preparation for a visit from Australia to our second favourite country in late August this year.

Part of our visit will be to spend 6 days to the east of Rome by car arriving from the North.

I tracked back through many posts on this Forum over many years. It struck me that little has been said in recent years about southern Abruzzo and Molise. Clearly Sulmona has been mentioned before as a favoured base for adventure, but a base slightly further south in one of those beautiful hanging villages of Molise might be even more interesting I thought.

I then moved to looking at wine produced in the region, as often we have been taken to interesting agritourismos and new wine regions. After taking a look at the main regional Agritourismo site I was not able to find what I was looking for. The options in Piedmont and Tuscany seem more apparent.

So I am requesting any information about the region of Molise in particular, where to stay among the beautiful villages, where to eat and what to see ???

We would greatly appreciate some help with our research and for the benefit of others who may follow to visit. Thank you.

I feel your pain. I planned a trip to Abruzzo a few years ago and found the dearth of information frustrating.

I did not make it to Molise, but I think you might find some of these websites helpful.

http://www.borghitalia.it/pg.base.php?id=5&lang=en
(The "Most Beautiful Villages in Italy"--okay, it is just a made up list, but they mention Oratino and Sepino as being noteworthy.)

http://www.deliciousitaly.com/molise/molise-food
(Short articles on the foods and wines of the region.)

http://www.tintilia-molise.it/en
(A website promoting Tintilia wines. Includes list of wineries, some with tasting rooms and maybe accommodations --e.g.,Borgo di Colloredo.)

The Delicious Italy link above mentions Agnone several times for food; I came across this agriturismo which sounds very nice.
http://www.agriturismi.it/en/molise/...ucia_1247.html

In southern Abruzzo, in addition to Sulmona and the towns mentioned to explore in that area (Scanno, Pacentro, etc.), you might also check out Lanciano. I stayed there 3 nights to explore the town and make a visit to the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, a monastery complex on the coast. Spectacular setting.
http://www.sangiovanninvenere.it/

I will give you the name and location of a unique hotel in Molise: Perbacco in Sant'angelo Limosano. (I don't often use the word "unique" but it applies here.)

It's a great little, family-run place in a small hilltop village. Look it up, and its reviews, on TripAdvisor.

"The most beautiful villages of Italy" is not accurately termed "just a made up list". There are established criteria for qualifying for the designation, and the association has a commitment to preserving villages of historic and aesthetic importance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mos...lages_in_Italy

The only part of Molise I have visited is the charming small town of Larino, not too far from the seaside, which is noted for producing an exceptionally exquisite light olive oli known as "gentile" -- unique in texture and flavor -- and for having a lovely Duomo and the well preserved remains of a rather small Roman theater. It has a showy religious feast every spring with flower bedecked wagons pulled by huge white oxen. I didn't see the festival but I did see some of the oxen, who are immensely impressive creatures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jJtrmA--78

Sandralist, thanks for the correction re the "Most Beautiful Villages" list. I have explored the list before, in planning my trip to Abruzzo 2 years ago, and it was indeed helpful in locating some towns to explore. They were beautiful and well worth discovering.

(I got lazy this time and did not read up on the methodology when referencing it.)

mama_mia,

Sure. Another good list that isn't just a list to have when planning a trip to Italy off the beaten tracks is the Italian Touring Club's list of the the best small towns in Italy. Some are well known, but many are not, and fascinating

http://www.bestsmalltownsitaly.com/about/orange-flags/

Thank you all for your advice on this beautiful, but challenging region.

I don't think we would be able to adjust to views of the pink Cadillac though. Maseratis would be more acceptable.

My search has taken me back to the Magnifica Italia Abruzzo and Molise video where a number of the "hanging villages" were featured close to Isernia and elsewhere in the south around Campobasso - being Castel S. Vincenzo, Scapoli, Monteroduni, Pesche, Cerro al Volturno, Barrea, Villetta Barrea,Agnone, Pietrabbondante and Pescolanciano etc.

Those villages, as well as the larger towns of Pescasseroli, Pescocostanzo, Alfedena and Isernia, look possibly more interesting as bases to venture out from than Sulmona to the north.

Any observations /comments / advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you