Rocchetta a Volturno. Winter 2022

2022

Rocchetta a Volturno is an Italian town of 1 098 inhabitants in the province of Isernia in Molise. The Municipality of Rocchetta al Volturno is made up of two nuclei: the original village, called Rocchetta Alta, or Rocchetta Vecchia, still perched in a defensive position on the mountain, and Rocchetta Nuova, which is located at a lower altitude. The new Rocchetta was born because, at the end of the 19th century, the slope that connected the southern part of the ancient town with the opposite hill was deforested and the land began to show serious subsidence from 1890 due to the progressive sliding of the superimposed layers of clay and sandstone, increased by water infiltrations, both rain and spring. In 1905, following further disastrous events, the population moved for the most part downstream, where there was a hamlet called Case Sparse. The modern town is developed today in the center of a plateau, bordered to the west by the terminal part of the Mainarde chain and to the east by a depression, at the bottom of which the Volturno flows; about two kilometers away are the sources of the river. Its name characterizes the toponyms of other nearby municipalities such as Colli a Volturno and Cerro al Volturno.

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Spectacular autumn landscape

Pescopennataro. Glimpses of summer

Pescopennataro is an Italian town of 244 inhabitants in the province of Isernia, in Molise. Until 1790 it was an integral part of the Giustizierato d'Abruzzo and of the Abruzzi Citrior.

The municipality owes its name to the small Carpino river that flows in its territory from north to west. In turn, the Carpino river received its name from the abundance of the "carpioni", the trout males, whose fishing in its waters is numerous. The origins of Carpinone, although not very ancient, date back to at least the tenth century since in 1064 the count of Isernia Bernardo had founded the Monastery of San Marco here, then donated to the abbey of Cassino. Belonged to the County of Isernia during the Lombard domination, in the Norman and Swabian era it belonged to the County of Molise. At the beginning of the Angevin period it became a fiefdom of Tommaso d'Evoli and returned to his family in 1382 after it had belonged first to the Tucciaco family and then to the Count of Gravina.

Isernia - Chiesa di Santa Chiara

La chiesa di Santa Chiara, insieme al monastero omonimo, è stata fondata nel 1275. Allo stato attuale, però, non esistono più tracce dell'edificio originario. Nel 1809 il monastero fu soppresso, mentre verso la fine del secolo un terremoto danneggiò seriamente la chiesa, che per questo fu chiusa al culto; la riapertura avvenne il 10 ottobre 1910. Durante la Prima guerra mondiale, l'ex edificio monasteriale servì da alloggio a prigionieri austriaci e ungheresi. La chiesa custodisce la statua dell'Addolorata che, durante la processione del Venerdì Santo, viene trasportata dai portantini subito dietro a quella del Cristo morto.

Matrice. Chiesa di Santa Maria della Strada

Nostra Signora della Via (Italian: Santa Maria della Strada) is an abbey in the municipality of Matrice, Campobasso. The date of construction of the abbey is not known, but it was consecrated in August 1148 by Peter II, archbishop of Benevento. In 1153 it appears in a list of churches and monasteries under the jurisdiction of Peter II drawn up for Pope Anastasius IV. The first abbot may have been called Landulfus, as "Abbas Landulfus" was engraved on a paving stone inside the church. Nazzarius is named abbot in a document from 1176. His foundation has historically been linked to the monastery of Santa Sofia of Benevento, but there is no evidence to support this claim. It is possible that the great abbey of Montecassino was involved, but the fact that the abbey is not listed as a subject house in medieval documents casts doubt on this claim. The eponymous Santa Maria de Strata appears in a register of the Abbey's possessions, but is believed to refer to a separate monastery in the vicinity of San Germano.

Pescopennataro. The church of S. Bartolomeo Apostolo

The church of San Bartolomeo Apostolo (1654), rebuilt in the twentieth century after the destruction of the world wars. Of particular interest is the high altar with the adjoining wooden tabernacle.

Molise, autumn 2022

Capracotta (IS)

Capracotta è un comune italiano di 871 abitanti della provincia di Isernia, in Molise. Si trova a 1.421 metri sul livello del mare ed è, dopo Rocca di Cambio, il comune più alto dell'Appennino. Ha fatto parte del Regno di Napolie del Regno delle Due Sicilie. Nonostante le origini medievali, il borgo ha un aspetto moderno a causa della ricostruzione dovuta ai danni della Seconda guerra mondiale, eccetto alcuni monumenti come le chiese. Dagli anni '50 in poi è iniziata a diventare una delle principali stazioni sciistiche molisane, assieme a Campitello Matese, determinando lo sviluppo economico e turistico.

Isernia. The Sanctuary of SS Cosma e Damiano

The Sanctuary of Santi Cosma e Damiano is located at an altitude of 400 meters. Inside, silver busts of the seventeenth century are venerated with the relics of the two saints inside, always inside two small plaster statues depicting the two saints to whom the sanctuary is dedicated. According to tradition, the sanctuary has existed since 1130, the first official document concerning it, however, dates back to 1523. In fact, in 1130 it seems that a chapel was built in this place, but this statement cannot be supported by any documentation that proves its actual presence. on that date. The current sanctuary as we can see it today dates back to the construction of 1523. Inside, the church has a single nave with a coffered ceiling. The presbytery ends with an apse. A beautiful cycle of frescoes depicting the life of Saints Cosma and Damiano of the Neapolitan school adorns the church. The ceiling was instead made by various artisans of Agnone. Inside the sanctuary we also find a collection of ex-votos that include painted tablets, sheets with inscriptions, photographs, anthropomorphic figurines and other objects.

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