ITALIAN ROOTS TOUR
Italian roots tourism / history / culture / food & wine
(six days / five nights)
Arrival in Campobasso, the regional capital, and check-in at the hotel. Meeting with genealogists who will help reconstruct the places of origin of your ancestors. With their help, we will go to the Town Hall to access the Civil Status archives and consult the original documents of your ancestors, and possibly also to the State Archives. Then, we will take you to the places that wrote the history of your ancestors (homes, relatives, cemetery, etc.). This journey in search for your roots, will be carried out in all the other municipalities crossed on this tour (the same can be done in any other municipality in the Molise region).
DAY 1 – CAMPOBASSO
The tour will continue with a visit to the historical centre and its beautiful churches, such as the Chiesa di San Giorgio, the oldest in the city and probably built on the ruins of a pagan temple; the Church of San Bartolomeo, one of the oldest examples of Romanesque art in Campobasso, close to the Monforte Castle; the Church of Santa Maria del Monte, located opposite the Castle and first documented in 1241.
During the walk in the historical centre, we will stop at two important museums. The Museo Sannitico, which houses numerous archaeological artefacts of the Samnite people, and the Museo dei Misteri, which displays the structures and costumes of the city’s most representative folkloric event, the Festival dei Misteri, taking place on Corpus Christi Sunday.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2 – GAMBATESA – RICCIA – JELSI
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Gambatesa, a municipality of just over a thousand inhabitants, located on a tuffaceous hill and from whose square you can admire Lago di Occhito. Visit to Castello di Capua, which houses splendid 16th-century frescoes by Donato Decumbertino. At the end of the visit, we will move on to nearby Riccia for a walk through the charming old town, to discover the beautiful churches and the castle, almost certainly dating back to the Longobard period.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
After lunch, we will continue on to Jelsi, a small village with a medieval historic centre, housing the 11th-century Chiesa Madre di Sant’Andrea Apostolo. Also of great importance are the 16th-century Palazzo Ducale dei Carafa and the Cappella della SS Annunziata with its frescoed crypt dating back to the 14th century. Visit to the MuFeG, the wheat festival community museum, which documents the deep connection the Jelsi community has with the Festa del Grano, whose celebration has been repeated for over two hundred years every 26 July, in honour of Sant’Anna
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 3 – SEPINO – RIPALIMOSANI
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Sepino, to visit the archaeological area of Altilia-Sepino dating back to Roman times. This includes two archaeological sites: Terravecchia/Sàipins, which would be the Samnite fortified village, and Saepinum/Altilia, the Roman city. We will then visit Chiesa di Santa Cristina and its crypt, founded in 1570. Inside the church, which probably dates back to the 9th century, is the Cappella del Tesoro that holds the relics of Santa Cristina and those of other saints.
Lunch in a restaurant in Sepino.
After lunch, we will head to Ripalimosani, where we will learn about Molise’s organic wine, including the indigenous Tintilia. Guided tour of the vineyards and cellar. At the end, tasting of four glasses accompanied by typical products.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4 – BUSSO – ROCCAMANDOLFI
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Busso to get to know one of Molise’s treasures: truffle. Truffle hunting and tasting.
Lunch in a typical restaurant.
Departure for Roccamandolfi, a small village, home of the brigands, where you will walk, together with a guide, through the characteristic alleyways and then follow one of the most beautiful piedmont paths. This will lead us to the Tibetan Bridge and the ruins of the splendid Castello Maginulfo. Back in the village, it will be possible to visit the Museo Multimediale del Brigantaggio (Multimedia Museum of Brigandage).
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 5 – FROSOLONE – ORATINO – CASALCIPRANO
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Frosolone, a town surrounded by greenery, about nine hundred metres above sea level. A walk through the delightful village and a visit to the Museo dei Ferri Taglienti, where hundreds of objects of historical value are preserved, recovered from the enthusiasts and heirs of the scissors and knife workers of Frosolone in the last century. We will also visit the Museo del Costume and the Shepherd’s House, a small museum set up like the shepherds’ houses of yesteryear, with all the tools and equipment needed to live in and carry out the activity of shepherding.
Lunch in a typical restaurant.
We will then move on to Casalciprano to discover the Museo della Memoria Contadina, an open-air museum featuring sculptures, objects and tools from rural life.
Lastly, we continue on to Oratino. Visit to the medieval-style historical centre. During the walk, you will see Palazzo Giordano,Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta and Chiesa di Santa Maria di Loreto. Also not to be missed is the Rocca di Oratino, featured in Castellitto’s famous film ‘Non ti muovere’.
Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 6 – TERMOLI
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Termoli. Guided tour to this enchanting village surrounded by ancient walls overlooking the sea, and containing priceless treasures, such as Castello Svevo and the Cattedrale di Santa Maria della Purificazione. Visit to underground Termoli with the Cathedral and the Crypt.
Lunch in a typical restaurant.
End of the trip and return home.
INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION FEE FROM € 790.00
THE FEE INCLUDES:
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PERIOD: ALL YEAR ROUND
