Authentic, rural, rustic, yes even medieval, that is what Molise proves to be. This is a region that was up until the mid 1900’s part of Abruzzi. However Italian’s being Italiani, they had to have it their way. So they parted friends (sort of). Driving to Molise is a panoramic wonder. You literally ascend to the clouds. When you have the time to stop and search out the beautiful hamlets, living becomes a joy.
One such place is Monteroduni in the Isernia province. It is a small but historically interesting community. Population today of about 800 just as it’s been for centuries. (My personal interest is in the fact that my mother’s family is from that town.) Also, the more I learn about origins of certain food preparations; I become aware that so many come from this region.
One such is what we call ‘Easter Bread’, or Pizza Piena. A loaf of simple, yet very tasty dough shell, filled with Ricotta, rice and either cherries, almonds and cinnamon flavor, or salsiccia secca with sharp formaggio pieces.
As you traverse the town you learn of its history,
How these unique people were able to fight off invasions of many tribes and peoples, enabling them to preserve their cultural identity. There is so much more to this story that only a book could tell. Yet the story of this area in Italy is one of the most fascinating of all Italy! These are some of the peoples inhabiting that area, do the research and you will come out educated, entertained and… Italian?
Samnite 600 BC – Roman280 BC – Goth 489 AD- Lombard 555 AD Norman1070 AD – Swabian1200 AD – Angevin1266 AD – Aragonese1443 AD Partenopea 1798 – Bourbon 1815- Risorgimento 1860- WWI 1915 Fascism 1922 – WWII 1940 – A Republic 1946 Separated from Abruzzi in 1963 – Recognized as a Regione as of 1970
