Oratino, Sepino, Fornelli and Frosolone are the Molise villages included in the official list of the Association The most beautiful villages in Italy based on the criteria required for admission: integrity of the urban fabric, architectural harmony, livability of the village, artistic-historical quality of the public and private building heritage, services to the citizen, payment of an annual membership fee.
Province of Campobasso
Oratino, ithe village of ancient stones and transhumance
In the Molise countryside at 800 meters above sea level you can discover this charming little village, all alleys, towers and churches. In the 12th century its name was LoretinumThen Ratino, Loratino and finally, Oratinoperhaps from Or from Latin Oratenus, visible everywhere, panoramic place. Worth visiting cchurch of Santa Maria di Loreto and the cchurch of Santa Maria Assunta at the top of the village. Particularly attractive is the structure of the Ducal Palace with its decorated door.
Interesting necropolis of the 6th century, the Rock and the Morge Regional Park with its enormous rocky masses. From Belvedere Calise you can enjoy an enchanting panorama.
The day of Saint Anthony the Abbot a large fire is lit in front of the churchyard of Santa Maria di Loreto and they are distributed boil them, legumes and cereals. Another tradition is that of Faultfrom fax, facis torch: fifty or one hundred inhabitants of the town carry an enormous candle made of reeds on their shoulders, and then set it on fire in the churchyard on Christmas Eve: an ancient rite coinciding with the solstices, which later became a religious event. Another festival in the village is that of Saint Bonifacethe patron saint, with stalls and outdoor buffets.
Among the typical dishes of the place there is the soup of laganelle and beans and a second course with goat’s cheese and eggs cooked in sausage sauce.
Sepino, ithe village with a theater for 3000 people
The name comes from saeptum, enclosure, from the wooden palisade that closed the area intended for livestock. Natural beauty, archaeological finds, thermal waters and tasty dishes: here are the secrets of Sepino, a Roman town in the Tammaro Valley. The atmosphere of this place surrounded by woods is full of ancient suggestions. Its origins date back to Samnites. The walls around the village have four majestic and finely decorated doors, especially the characteristic one Porta Bojano.
Worth seeing there Grifo FountainThe Hole and the theater of the ancient Saepinum, which probably could accommodate 3000 people at the time. There are many religious buildingsincluding the 12th century church, dedicated to the patroness, Saint Christina with the Treasury chapel and the parish archive; the church of San Lorenzo; the churches of Santa Maria Assunta and Purgatory; the Convent of the Holy Trinity with the white stone cloister and a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi. The village also houses a very important archaeological site, the area of Altilia Saepinum. It is also a perfect place to relax in the therapeutic thermal waters of Tre Fontane springs. Typical dishes: artichokes stuffed with minced meat and parmesan and the Fiadone with cheese filling, to be prepared sweet or savory.
Province of Isernia
Stove, the village of oil and the seven towers
A 9th century medieval village among olive trees on a hill bathed by the Vandra stream, a tributary of the Volturno, in an uncontaminated landscape. The name perhaps could derive from a oven to fire bricks (the local soil is very clayey) or from Cornelii Forum. The castle, towers and walls are well preserved. Worth visiting is the mother church, dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, the church of San Pietro Martire with a Renaissance portal and a Baroque altar; the various chapels, among which the small chapel of the Laurelli family is particularly valuable; The Baronial palace similar in structure to the ancient Lombard Castle; the towers of the Norman and Angevin periods; the access door to the historic centre, once equipped with a drawbridge; there Fountain dedicated to Summer. Fornelli is among the top oil producers in the area.
king oscar Stove structure
king oscar Stove structure
Structure in historical context, studio apartment.
Numerous celebrations, such as Days at the Borgo, medieval historical re-enactments with the burning of the castle. Typical dishes: sagne and fasciuel (pasta without eggs and beans); I’m sure you’re there (fried battered courgette flowers); r’ suffritt (fried lamb innards or offal); tripe.
Frosolone, the village of knives, caciocavallo and ‘ndocce
The name perhaps derives from Frosinonefollowing the arrival of immigrants from the town or from Frisian, a bird present in the coat of arms of the Municipality. Some Benedictine churches and monasteries seem to confirm the first hypothesis and a link with Montecassino.
In Piazza Alessandro Volta there is the majestic Gross Source (19th century) with lion heads. Worth visiting parish church of Santa Maria Assunta, the Costume Museum, the small church of San Rocco, the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (17th century). There are craftsmen for the sharp ironsknives and scissors, and dairies for processing cow’s milk into caciocavallo excellent, genuine scamorzee ricotta. Truffles and many varieties of mushrooms are also found there.
In Molise, in addition to those already mentioned, there are also other very picturesque and interesting villages to visit, for their characteristics and excellence. For example Castelpetrosofamous for the sanctuary of the Addolorata and for the apparition of the Madonna; Macchiagodena, said the village of books; Agnone known for its churches and bells and for the big torches (‘ndocce) lit in honor of the winter solstice; Civita Campomaranothe country of murals of artists from all over the world; Castel San Vincenzo with its stone houses, the artificial lake and the virgin nature of the National Park and San Pietro Avellana with its prized white and black truffles.
It is possible to discover the splendid villages of all the other regions, here
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