Journey through Nature and Culture in Upper Molise

Agnone

Amid history, charm and elegance, Agnone shines like a work of art chiseled by time, where history and craftsmanship come together in unique harmony. Like silver bells suspended in the sky, Agnone’s history resonates like a thousand-year-old orchestra telling ancient stories, the legacy of a glorious past. Agnone is a symphony of glitter, a luminous ballet of copper that comes to life in the hands of local artisans. Agnone is a dance between past and present; like the blacksmith’s art, the town shapes its future with the warmth of traditions, forging a unique identity that shines as brightly as carefully crafted metals. The village streets, like silver threads woven into memory, lead to palaces and churches that tell stories of faith etched into the details of their walls.

So, let our journey begin! Meet the local guide who will accompany you for the entire tour and find out all the details of what is about to unfold.

A sweet encounter
Welcome to an adventure like no other! The welcome to your journey is a fascinating blend of taste and history in the heart of the historic center. Your local guide will greet you with a smile in a typical café, a place steeped in atmosphere and tradition. Before you will stretch a selection of artisanal sweets, true culinary gems that tell the sweet story of Upper Molise, a story famous far and wide. A History jealously guarded in the hands and hearts of our grandmothers. Their enveloping scent will be the first taste of the authenticity that will characterize your trip. Get ready to immerse yourself in an unforgettable adventure, a journey full of flavors, stories and discoveries.

Dairy Melody
In the vast green pastures lies the secret of a quality cheese, where the harmony between nature and product reaches perfection. Here in Upper Molise, the combination of lush vegetation and dairy production results in a unique sensory experience. Savor the taste of Molise’s dairy tradition in an unforgettable experience. We will access a typical craft workshop to retrace the stages of production. Together with master cheesemakers, you can try your hand at making a small pressed cheese. Together, we will visit the stone aging cellar, and finally, you can delight your palate with a guided tasting of tasty local cheeses accompanied by a glass of Molise wine. Be surprised by the genuineness of the products and people: a small cadeau-surprise of the experience made is waiting for you!

The Voice of Angels
Our tour continues inside a magical, world-famous place: the Marinelli family’s Pontificia Fonderia di Campane, Italy’s oldest bell foundry and among the oldest in the world, specializing in the construction of bells using techniques and processes thousands of years old, handed down from generation to generation. A journey that will introduce you to the world of bells and many bells around the world, including history and curiosities. Guided by local smelters, we will go on a journey of history, sounds and objects related to the world of smelting. All the way to the heart of the choir: the large workshop that houses the metalwork. Lend an ear, this is where you can reconnect with your ancestors. Listen to the passing of the hours and quiet days in the fields; listen to the rising of the sun and the moon; listen to the melodies that accompany the happiest and the most mournful events.

San Pietro Avellana

With the ringing of bells, a new day is about to begin. The sun has just risen and the barking of dogs entices us to leave. In the jeeps of our exceptional guides we move to nearby San Pietro Avellana. 900 meters above sea level and a mountainous landscape in which the colors of unspoiled nature dominate. Lost in the forests of centuries-old beech and turkey oaks, traversed by the gentle sound of streams, be accompanied by expert truffle hunters and their faithful trained dogs and experience the exciting adventure of searching for Molise’s famous gold: the Truffle.

Enjoy the laughter and the walk, feel the excitement building as the truffle is spotted and brought to the surface. What if the day is not the best? Don’t worry, the truffle maker will surely have some “balls” to provide for the lunch ahead!

We return for a short nap, a change of clothes, and ready for a tête-à-tête meeting with our truffle.

Castel Del Giudice

Immersed in the beauty of the historic village, we prepare to enter the kitchens of a typical Molise osteria to help prepare our lunch. Side by side with an experienced chef, rediscover the taste of handmade pasta and prepare the base for a tasty fresh truffle noodle.

Strip off the chef’s robes and relax with a quiet aperitif, surrounded by the beauty of nature and breathtaking views. Enjoy your lunch and savor the tastes of tradition again. Regain the taste of being at home. And after so much effort and exertion, how about some relaxation in the spa area? Thrill to the light from the large window overlooking the surrounding forests and mountains. Regenerate yourself with an immersion in relaxation and landscape. Take your time in the wellness path and enjoya relaxing massage.

Our tour ends in the late afternoon (h19:00) with a return to Agnone. Would you like to

a homemade ice cream?

Capracotta

The loop is about to close and your last day in Molise takes you to misty landscapes in the heart of the Molise Apennines. Bare stone architecture, snow-capped mountains in winter and clean, fresh air in summer. About 1,500 meters above sea level, at the center of a mountain system: we are in Capracotta.

Trekking in the heart of the Molise Apennines
It is in the beautiful and picturesque location of Prato Gentile, a plateau of natural conformation, that our trek begins. A walk in the green of nature, among breathtaking scenery and an unspoiled mountain environment. A walk that turns into a sensory journey, where words struggle to fully describe the majesty of the landscapes: vast expanses of flowers dance to the rhythm of the wind, views paint pictures of striking beauty, while the rock blends harmoniously with the soft turf. A loop route that starts and returns to the heart to Molise, leaving you with your eyes and soul filled with beauty.

Farmer’s Breakfast
Returning from our walk, what better way to reconnect with the origins of your ancestors than by enjoying the classic “Molise breakfast”?
Gentle Meadow provides us with a beautiful natural picnic area in which you can recover from eye and leg fatigue and enjoy the famous farmer’s breakfast. Local products; real packed lunches that your ancestors prepared with care and wisdom to face the days of work in the countryside or in the high mountains. The breakfast basket will be a riot of authentic flavors: omelets, delicious cold cuts, local cheeses with rich flavors, accompanied by rustic, fragrant bread. Flavors that will take you back in time, evoking the simple joys of an earthbound life. The atmosphere of the picnic area, surrounded by nature and the silence of the woods, will be the ideal setting for this unique gastronomic experience. Relax on a blanket spread out on the grass, lulled by birdsong and rustling leaves, as you soak up a meal that celebrates country traditions.

Our itinerary concludes with a return to Agnone in the afternoon (h17:00). You have plenty of time to delve into the historic village. Lose yourself in the streets of the historic Venetian Quarter. Be enraptured by the heady scent of local confectionery as you enjoy Agnone’s typical Sweet Host. Treat yourself to a souvenir trip to the artisan workshops of master goldsmiths. Walk around and admire the beauty of the village that is alive and teeming with traditions.

Our journey will end here. Don’t miss this opportunity. Go back in time. Experience the Molise of your ancestors!