Molise in Italy
Molise is a region of Italy on the Adriatic. The Molise region is quite a small region and covers just 4,438 square kilometers, on which around 321,000 people live.
The capital of the Molise region is the town of Campobasso. Molise is made up of the provinces of Campobasso and Isernia.
Historically, today’s region of Molise belongs to the neighboring municipalities of Abruzzo and Puglia and therefore also shares their history and past. The special thing about this region of Molise is that you can find ethnic minorities such as Arberesh and Molise Slavs here. Both groups live in the province of Campobasso. Molise herself was denied independence and autonomy for a long time. It was not until 1963 that the region managed to break away from Abruzzo and was made an independent region. Molise got its own administrative unit and has existed in its current form since then.
Landscapes and life in the Molise region
Molise is the second smallest region in Italy and has a breathtaking and untouched mountain world. Although the entire area has attractive landscapes, there is no focus on mass tourism. There are only a few accommodations available for vacationers and this will not change in the next few years.
The landscape is characterized by old mountain villages with stone houses that give off the typical warm stone smell in the summer heat, which mixes with the herbs of the meadows and pastures.
Sometimes you get the impression, especially when you come here from the vibrant Italian cities, that time seems to stand still in Molise. Especially the calm, which is only broken by the chirping of the birds, lets the soul breathe easy. There are hardly any industrial areas or entertainment districts here. There are also no monstrous hotel complexes with all-inclusive meals, there are only pastures, mountains, peace, sun and sky.
The people here are warm, open, honest and live mainly from agriculture. Especially the original kitchen with few frills, but extremely tasty dishes can be found here.
Geographically, the Molise region is divided into two parts: Alto Molise and Basso Molise. Alto Molise is characterized by its high and impressive mountains. Basso Molise, on the other hand, is much gentler in terms of landscape and has an attractive coastline for tourists as well as the wine-growing area.
In general, the region is characterized by untouched nature. With the turquoise lakes and the varied landscape, molise is definitely worth a trip. The charm of the people living there and the cozy silence and atmosphere leave a lasting impression on every visitor.
A little specialty can also be found in the Molise area. An archaeologically significant find from Italy was found here: an amphitheater, which is the highest of its kind. The theater seats 2,200 people and still offers a great panoramic view over the landscapes of Molise.
Piedmont in Italy
The Italian word Piedmont means in German “at the foot of the mountains” and also describes the Piedmont region. This is the largest region in Italy after the island of Sicily. In total, the area has Piedmontan area of 25,399 square kilometers on which about 4.33 million people live.
The landscapes of Piedmont
The Aosta Valley in the north belongs to the historical and natural geographical areas of Piedmont. But it has a special status, the Aosta Valley forms its own autonomous region and therefore also has its own administrative unit. Around 120,000 people live here. The area of this valley corresponds to an area of 3,263 square kilometers.
The north of Piedmont borders directly on the Swiss cantons of Valais and Ticino. The western part of the area borders on France. The Italian internal border stretches along the regions of Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy.
There are three areas in Piedmont. On the one hand the Alpine region, which is of course on the edge of the Alps. This runs along the western and northern borders of Piedmont. The so-called Occitan valleys Stura, Maira, Varaita, Po, Pellice and Chesione as well as the Valle di Susa and the Aosta Valley are also located here. These are supplemented by the Valsesia. The entire area around the west bank of Lake Maggiore, which is one of the most famous lakes in Italy, also belongs to Piedmont.
Other celebrities soar into the sky in Piedmont. Because in Piedmont there is Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso, each over 4,000 meters.
The Po Plain is home to the region’s major cities. Furthermore, one counts the hilly landscapes in the southeast of Piedmont. Agriculture is predominant here, and tourism is also important. If you are a wine connoisseur, you should not miss this region, because the well-known types of wine Barolo, Barbera and Barabesco grow here.
The largest city in the region is Turin. It is also the capital and economically, politically and culturally most important city in Piedmont.
History of Piedmont
Piedmont was founded by the retreat of the Romans at the end of the Roman Empire. Many peoples roamed the Piedmont during the migrations and one recognized the fertility of the soil. The Arabs invaded Piedmont in the 10th century. Some of them also settled here and left traces that are still visible today. Turin, for example, is the center of Islam for northern Italy. The fertile soil was in great demand among the various rulers and so there was a permanent dispute over Piedmont. For a long time, especially between France and Habsburg, things went back and forth.
In the First Coalition War in 1792, French troops marched into parts of Sardinia-Piedmont. In 1794 the French made it to Piedmont. They triumphed in the region under Napoleon and so Piedmont belonged to France from 1796. In 1799, however, the French government in Italy collapsed and they were able to russich – Austrian troops advance to Turin. They dissolved the Piermont Republic and restored the King of Sardinia to his office.
As early as 1800, however, Napoleon was able to bring the area back and Piedmont became French again. This time, too, the king was removed from office. It was only when Napoleonic rule came to an end that Piedmont was reunited with Italy.