Upper Molise

“ALTO MOLISE”…..SUSPENDED BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY!

Vastogirardii San Pietro avellana Pietrabbondante Carovillii

frosolone Capracotta Agnone Staffolii

123 out of 136 communities of Molise are located in mountainous areas. The orography is characterized by the Mainarde Mountain range (highest peak: Monte Morrone, 1,805 m) and the Matese Massif (highest peak Monte Miletto, 2,050 m). “Settore Mainarde” is the name given to the part of this range that in 1990 has been recognized part of Parco Nazionale di Abruzzo, Molise e Lazio. It includes the territories of Castel San Vincenzo, Pizzone, Scapoli and Rocchetta al Volturno. The main rivers are Trigno, Biferno, Fortore and Volturno. The urban centers of Alto Molise often face south-east and have the aspect of medieval burghs lying on plateaux of calcareous rock, with the houses leaning against each other and crowded around a castle or palace or the principal church..

MORPHOLOGY OF ALTO MOLISE

This area of Molise is characterized by the presence of Turkey Oak (“Cerro”) in the area of Staffoli and Oasi Selva di Castiglione, and of silver fir (found in Collemeluccio and Pescopennataro). Above the 1,100 metres there are beeches (Monte Capraro, Monte Campo and Monte S. Nicola) and grasslands characterized by a large variety of flora. In the mountain area there are Spanish brooms, aromatic plants and vast expanses of oaks. In the woods there is a variety of mushrooms and white and black truffles. There are ashes, pines and firs. At this latitude it is easy to meet limes, maples, “ornielli” (a kind of ash), hollies, ferns and buttercups. In the mountains of Matese firs and black pines are present. In Campitello Matese clovers, nettles, or thistles and “verbascum” (velvet plant) form the classical pastures of Molise.

FLORA OF ALTO MOLISE

Molise is characterized by many areas that present a notable and untouched naturalness. So, you can find many animals like: wild bears that find their natural habitat in the area of Alto Molise, wolves that can be found on the mountain of Matese, while badgers, weasels, otters, deers and beach martens are found a bit in all the mountainous areas. There are also different species of birds of prey, including the Golden Eagle. Moreover in the part of the Natural Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, you can find the Marsicano bear. In the upper Volturno Valley you can find some salmonid species, like the brown trout. There are also minnows, chubs, tenches, rudds and eels. In the rivers there are also mullets. Among the birds, eagles, sparrowhawks and falcons are the most important. Finally among the reptiles there are “saettone”, “cervone”, snakes and vipers that live on the Matese Mountains and on the Meta mountains.

FAUNA OF ALTO MOLISE

Vastogirardii

Agnone

San Pietro avellana

frosolone Staffolii

Pietrabbondante

Capracotta

Carovillii

Frosolone is a village of 3,189 people. It is a charming place that still preserves the

old medieval town charm. Its landscape is very beautiful. It is situated on a

promontory circled by steep cliffs, hills, woods, meadows and lakes. Frosolone is

characterized by a morphology of carbonate rocks with bizarre and surprising

shapes. The village is very active in the handicraft industry, in particular, in the

production of scissors and knives. Before the earthquake of 1805, the village was

one of the most populous settlements in Molise.

Vastogirardii

Agnone

San Pietro avellana

frosolone Staffolii

Pietrabbondante

Capracotta

Carovillii

Capracotta is a village with a population of 920 people, located at 1,421 metres on the sea level, and

it is, after Rocca di Cambio, the highest municipality in the Appennine area.

Just outside the village there is the Botanical Garden of Appennine Flora with a lot of arboreal and

floral species of Central Italy.

In winter it is not difficult to run into snowstorms. For this reason Capracotta is known in South-

Central Italy like “the land of storms” too.

Capracotta is an important ski resort. It has got two important installations: one for Alpine skiing,

with a chair lift in Monte Capraro; another centre for cross-country skiing in Prato Gentile.

Vastogirardii

Agnone

San Pietro avellana

frosolone Staffolii

Pietrabbondante

Capracotta

Carovillii

Agnone (5,253 inhabitants) lies on a rocky spear in the mountainous Alto Molise. Farms and country houses surround the city at elevations varying from the 1,386 metres above sea level at Monte Castelbarone to 370 metres of the Verrino River bed. The Sangro River also passes by Agnone. Its geographic position has been described as "The natural capital of the Alto Molise". Its territorial extension covers 9,630 hectares and is made up of forests, pastures and agriculture land. Agnone is known for the manufacturing of bells by the Marinelli Bell Foundry.

Vastogirardii

Agnone

San Pietro avellana

frosolone Staffolii

Pietrabbondante

Capracotta

Carovillii

Staffoli is part of the town of Agnone

and has a vast natural landscape with oak and coniferous woods, green pastures and clear torrents, remains of Samnite archeology and traces of the transhumant civilizations .

Vastogirardii

Agnone

San Pietro avellana

frosolone Staffolii

Pietrabbondante

Capracotta

Carovillii

Vastogirardi (722 inhabitants) is situated at 1,200 mt. in the part of Molise bordering with Abruzzo. Its territory is separated from Capracotta territory by mountains which go from 1,300 to 1,350 m, like Montagnola (1,292 mt), Monte Miglio (1,350 mt), Monte Pizzo (1,370 mt), Montagna Fiorita with Montarone (1,278 mt). On the top of the hill where it lies there is a castle and the Church of S. Nicola di Bari. It is famous for handicraft: embroidery especially “lavori al tombolo”, wrought iron, bells, steel blades scissors and razors.

Vastogirardii

Agnone

San Pietro avellana

frosolone Staffolii

Pietrabbondante

Capracotta

Carovillii

San Pietro Avellena (519 inhabitants) rises at the limit of the Celano-Foggia sheep track (tratturo). The altitude is between the 740 metres of the valley of Sangro river and the 1,730 of the summit of Monte Miglio. The torrents Rio and Vandra bathe the territory that is rich in woods and uncontaminated nature.

Vastogirardii

Agnone

San Pietro avellana

frosolone Staffolii Capracotta

Pietrabbondante has a population of 774 peple. It is situated at 1,027 metres on sea level, nestled between big rocks known as “Morge”, at the foot of the Mount Caraceno, where many megalithic remains have been found. The climate is continental, with mild summers and severe winters with heavy snow. The town is also rich in flora, as there in places bordering large expanses of conifers and hardwoods. Currently the town of Pietrabbondante is a tourist site for the presence of a Samnite complex of worship (2nd century BC) on the slope of Monte Saraceno, consisting of a theater, a temple and two arcaded buildings on both sides.

Pietrabbondante Carovillii

Vastogirardii

Agnone

San Pietro avellana

frosolone Staffolii

Pietrabbondante

Capracotta

Carovillii

The village of Carovilli (1,377 inhabitants) is at an altitude between 850 and the 1200 meters,and offers a very interesting naturalistic high-hilly panorama ,with pastures, soft reliefs with forests and vegetation.