Molise

The bicycle wheels race, struggling up the hills and skirting the mountains. Shades of green give way to patches of golden wheat, and a little further on, the sky and sea meet in a brilliant blue, colors taken from a watercolor palette. We are in Molise, a small strip of land guarded by the Apennines and the Adriatic, with a history written by lords perched on the hills and traced by the tratturi, the ancient transhumance routes. Around the cities lie glimpses of art and nature, such as the Norman castle of Termoli overlooking the sea and the many churches and cathedrals overlooking the pristine landscapes. The hillside villages capture your heart, places you'll fall in love with, where the flavors are authentic, schools have only one class, and traditions are centuries-old, like the artisanal ox-drawn carts for the Larino Leopard Festival, or the dazzling colors of the Carrese and the Riccia Grape Festival, which has honored the hard work of the fields since 1930. Molise exists! If you're still unsure, pack your bags and go discover it.