La N’docciata

A suggestive festival is held every year in Agnone, in Molise region; the festival is called La N’docciata and it takes its origin from the pagan rite of the fire. In the past, hundreds and hundreds of years ago, the shepherds of this area used to build big torches made of wood. The roots of the festival go back even before the time of the ancient Romans. This area was the home of the Samnite tribes.

The torches had a conic hard wood structure filled with brushwood. This type of structure allowed the shepherds to carry the torches on their shoulders when they had to walk in the countryside during the night. The structure also permitted the fire to burn for long time; therefore, the torches were a source of light and a source of heat for the shepherds during the long, cold winter’s nights. The tradition is also related to the pagan rite of the light.

Nowadays, the festival is held twice a year, the evening of the 8th of December that in Italy is a Catholic festivity, and the evening of the 24th of December. This is the traditional date, on the Eve night. The second, the 8th of December, became famous on 1996 when it was performed in Piazza San Pietro for the Pope. La N’Docciata is now a big event, with several dozens of torches carried by men wearing traditional shepherd’s clothes.

The torches formed by just a single cone are normally carried by teen-age kids. The bigger torches formed by two, three or even fourteen cones are carried by adults. The procession is very impressive.

The torches parade strolls along the main road of the Agnone, from the northern side of the village up to the main cathedral. The closing ceremony is held in Piazza del Plebiscito, where what is left of all the torches end up in a giant bonfire of brotherhood.

The village is all decorated with Christmas lights, Christmas trees and shops adorned for the festivity seasons. La N’Docciata of Agnone is a pagan tradition that nowadays embrace the Christmas celebrations and the winter season. A few years ago, La N’Docciata has been awarded the title of Italian Heritage of Tradition.

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

Molise procession ritual tradition

01:59:00

The coast of Abruzzo is anything but monotonous: there are flat sandy beaches highly organized for tourists where is possible to rent beach umbrellas, deck chairs and have a bar/restaurant available all day and also part of the night. These beaches have bay watchers and life guards for safety issues. There is always some entertainment going on on these type of beaches: beach volley, live music, dance lessons, sport lessons. Fun is guarantee.

But if you prefer a quiet spot to relax listening to the placid waves of the Adriatic Sea, Abruzzo can offer solitary wild beaches where is possible to spend a laid back day, walking the dog or simply reading a book.

There are dramatic coastlines with high cliffs and pebbly beaches of unique beauty.

Natural Reserve of Punta Aderci, Vasto.

The Adriatic Sea has a water’s temperature that is very mild; in summer it reaches 28 degrees. It is possible to bath from the end of April to the beginning of October. Abruzzo offers one of the highest densities of blue flag beaches in Italy.

But what is very unique on the Adriatic shore is the Trabocchi coast.

Trabocco in Punta Aderci, Vasto.

The Trabocchi coast starts from Ortona and ends in Vasto. These 50 km of coast are characterized by the beautiful Trabocchi, original fishermen stilt huts used for fishing purposes.

Trabocco in Fossacesia, Abruzzo.

A large fishing net is lowered from the Trabocco down to the sea. The fishing net is left in the sea water for a certain time: half an hour or an hour.

When the fisherman lifts up the net there he finds his catch.

Fishing net is lowered from the Trabocco down to the sea.

Nowadays there are Trabocchi that offer a wonderful opportunity: to eat freshly caught fish there in the stilt hut.

The atmosphere is very romantic especially in the evening. The stilt hut is lighted up with dozens of bulbs, its floor gently moves following the rhythm of the waves, the moon shines on the sea.

The fish is usually cooked in a very simple and traditional way, accompanied by local white wine, Pecorino or Trebbiano d’Abruzzo.

A dinner at the Trabocchi eating fresh fish and drinking excellent local wine costs 35,00 euro a person, the atmosphere is very romantic perfect for an unforgettable evening.

Seafood Restaurant Sasso Della Cajana.

I recommend to book in advance your dinner, the space in a stilt hut is limited. I also suggest to get there a bit early to enjoy the sunset on the Adriatic Sea.

Below a picture of myself with some friends (three Italian friends, a French and a Spanish friend) enjoying a very pleasant evening at Trabocco Sasso della Cajana in Rocca San Giovanni. We had a menu consisting in three different starters, handmade pasta with fish, fried fish, several jars of white wine “vino della casa”, coffee, dessert and a local liquor called Genziana made from a radish and very very bitter. All that for just 35,00 euro per person.

Vasto is well known for a dish called “Brodetto alla Vastese”, consisting in local fish and sea food cooked in fresh tomatoes sauce duly made and served in a terracotta pan. Obviously we had a wonderful Brodetto alla Vastese that day, with local Rose’ wine, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, coffee and dessert. The meal costed 35,00 euro each. And here below other picture of a lunch I had with two friends at the trabocco Lu Cingarelle in Vasto.

Trabocco Cungarelle in Vasto, Italy.

The trabocchi experience is something to try if you visit Abruzzo during late Spring, Summer or early Autumn.

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

Abruzzo Coast Sea seafood restaurant Trabocchi Coast traditional food

20:17:00

Brave man Mr Giovanni Nomaro; In 2000 he decided to start a dairy in Casacalenda, in Molise region. His dream was to produce fresh cheese, mainly pasta filata cheese, “spun paste”, like mozzarella, although Molise had not any tradition of mozzarella making....

Scamorza cheese

Truffle cheese

Caciocavallo cheese

Truffle cheese

Fresh cheese

Primosale cheese

Since then, the dairy has started to collect prizes and rewards in Italy and abroad, the walls of Giovanni's shop are now filled with prizes won by his dairy products, all produced with the highest quality standards.

Cheese factory

Dairy factory

La Fonte Nuova

The cheese is produced only with fresh local milk, the milk used is raw in order to confer unique flavors to the dairies. Giovanni’s cheese is the result of his region, his land, genuine and natural without any type of preservative.

Mature cheese

Scamorza cheese

Chilly cheese

Spun paste cheese

An hour from Casacalenda, in Frosolone, in the Isernia province, you can visit a small museum with all the tools used by shepherds in the past.

Traditional shepherds tools of Molise

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

cheese Ricotta traditional food traditional products of Molise

10:52:00

We too would like to share our experience of, not only buying in Italy but also the very smooth process of buying through Abruzzo Rural Property and, in particular, our Agent, Monia.

My cousin and I have Italian blood running through our veins and so it was only natural that we both wanted to have our own little getaway in Italy if only to get back to our roots.

We therefore started our search in early 2015 and saw 12 houses over two days before falling in love with our beautiful house in the small village of Tufillo with its breathtaking scenery and warm, welcoming people.

The “buying” process went so smoothly because we were in such safe hands with Monia. The way she just dealt with everything for us, from negotiating with the owners, signing the papers, meeting with the Notario, to handing over the keys and introducing us to our wonderful builders, in such a calm manner was just so helpful and we could not have done it without her. Everybody going through a similar process should have a “Monia” supporting them as you will not find anyone more efficient and professional than she is. She even took us to the bank to help us open up an Italian bank account – would we get that service from a property agent in the UK? I don’t think so!

Anyway, nearly one year on and our house is almost complete so here are some photos below showing the house as it looked before, during the works and after:

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

Abruzzo Abruzzo Rural Property property purchase real estate renovation

16:29:00