Life style in Abruzzo and Molise

Character palazzo for sale with amazing original floor tiles and frescos...

2022-09-30T01:05:00.002+02:00

Restored apartment with terrace in Italian palazzo.

2022-09-19T02:01:00.006+02:00

Property virtual tour: Country villa with pool, garden and olive grove i...

2021-04-04T19:19:00.000+02:00

Italian Property Virtual Tour: historic palazzo with garden and olive gr...

2021-03-21T01:17:00.004+01:00

Italian palazzo for sale in the pretty town of Agnone, Molise region of Italy.

2021-03-01T00:45:00.013+01:00

How to Buy Property in Italy During Covid - USA Clients Testimonial

2021-01-14T03:26:00.005+01:00

House Hunters International - Time to Chill in Abruzzo, Italy

2020-12-13T18:10:00.002+01:00

View from town house for sale in Palmoli, Italy. Ref.: PA1099

2020-11-14T03:37:00.005+01:00

The incredible snowfall that has hit Abruzzo in January 2017

2017-02-06T01:46:00.000+01:00

The sixth of January, here in Italy, we celebrate La Befana, it is a National bank holiday and a religious celebration.

Nowadays the festivity is mainly orientated to amuse children with little gifts and numerous festivals across the country. La Befana is an old ugly witch that flies on a broomstick carrying candies and sweets to well-behaved children, charcoal to naughty children.

This year La Befana has amused everyone here in Abruzzo with an incredible snowfall that will pass to the history. The snow started to fall on hilltop villages during the afternoon of January the 5th.

The 6th of January at around lunchtime, it started to snow even along the coast; it is very uncommon to have snow along the coast, but this winter it has been an exception. By dinnertime everything was white and all the roads were very quiet, no traffic, no noise, no people. Shops all closed and numerous bars and restaurants had to shut down earlier because of the bad snowstorm in course.

The atmosphere was breath-taking and magic.

A friend took some photos of the ancient city of Vasto during the night of the 6th of January; Vasto with its castle, churches, monuments and the narrow roads of its historic centre has never looked so beautiful as under the snow with all the Christmas decorations still on.

Thank you Befana, for this beautiful gift!

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

Agnone and its traditonal winter fires

2016-12-07T01:59:00.001+01:00

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

Abruzzo region, its shores and the unique Trabocchi coast.

2016-10-03T20:17:00.001+02:00

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

Dairy La Fonte Nuova, local cheese of Molise

2016-08-30T10:52:00.002+02:00

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....

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.

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

A successful story of property purchase in Abruzzo

2016-05-12T16:29:00.001+02:00

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

An Italian alternative vehicle: APE 50

2015-08-21T16:40:00.000+02:00

An alternative to car or motorbike? Ape 50!! If you come to Abruzzo you will see many of these little, cute vehicles, sometimes in bright colours and funny details.

The classic Italian vehicle that is versatile, adaptable, handy and yet cute and stylish. The Ape 50 is one of the smallest vehicles on the world nevertheless, it can be loaded up to 205 km. With Ape 50 it is possible to drive in very narrow step roads, like in the historic centres of many Italian villages, in country side dirt roads and even in the city centre.

To drive Ape 50 is not necessary a car driving license, it is enough a motorbike license and it is possible to drive it from the age of 14.

Ape 50 costs only 5.000,00 euro including VAT and the insurance is nothing compared to a normal car.
The best thing about Ape 50 is that it is possible to personalise it in so many different and funny way.

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

Abruzzo Rural Property promotional video

2015-08-21T02:59:00.001+02:00

Have you ever driven from a hilltop in Abruzzo region down to the Adriatic coast? Have you ever seen a Trabocco or a traditional wood oven? Take this journey with us, from Colledimezzo to the trabocchi coast, from San Buono to Vasto to get a feeling of Abruzzo region. Enjoy the peaceful countryside and the beautiful coastline. Discover some of the best properties for sale in Abruzzo – Italy with Abruzzo Rural Property.

A Traditional Jewellery from Abruzzo: La Presentosa

2014-06-09T20:23:00.000+02:00

Do you know that in Abruzzo you can find a beautiful,
traditional jewellery called Presentosa?

Presentosa is a traditional jewellery from Abruzzo, a gold pendant with a very refined filigree technique. This jewellery is handmade by skilled goldsmiths. Presentosa comes in yellow and white gold, with or without gems.

The filigree of the jewellery represents symbols in different shapes and each shape has a different meaning: one heart in the middle means that the girl is single.

Two hearts, the girl who wears it is engaged. Two hearts joined by a crescent reversed moon shape means the girl is married.

Nowadays Presentosa is a gift for many different occasions and the symbols used varied: a dove is used for the baptism, communion and confirmation; a mirror is the symbol against bad luck and slanders.

Originally the Presentosa was related to the rituals of engagement, in fact it used to be offered to young women as a promise of love. The word comes from "presente", a present, a gift, which then turned into "presentenza" and "presentosa" in the local dialect.

The jewellery is a perfect gift representative of the region Abruzzo and its traditions.

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

Carnival in Abruzzo and Molise – Pagan rituals and Medieval characters

2014-02-07T18:44:00.001+01:00

Dances known as "lu saltarello" and the "lacci d'amore"

Although there is no characteristic mask-figure in Abruzzo, there are still various rituals and propitiatory customs connected with the Carnival. Among these customs we must mention the dances known as "lu saltarello" and the "lacci d'amore", a famous tradition at Sant'Andrea, the smashing of cooking pots and the greasy pole.

In Guardiagrele on the day of the carnival, people dresses in traditional clothes. Men wear a hat with a flower into the band or are dressed as carnival characters: the lawyer, the judge, the professor, the doctor, the captain, the merchant. Local women goes to church dressed in traditional long, black skirts with strips of brighter clothes and aprons, blouses decorated with handmade lace, handmade wooden shawls, and gold pendants.

Traditional clothes in Guardiagrele

In Schiavi d’Abruzzo, on the Carnival day, also known as “martedi’ grasso”, young men from the village dress up in funny carnival clothes allwearing a huge paper hat representing a bouquet of flowers and roses. These guys are called Mazzaroni in local dialect, they stroll the streets of the village singing, playing and dancing a traditional dance called La Spallata, pushing each other shoulder against shoulder. They goes door to door performing their amusing show and asking for sweets, food and wine.

Boy wearing a hat representing a bouquet of flowers

In Molise, Carnival is characterised by an atmosphere that takes back to Pagan rituals and is celebrated in a darker way than in many other regions of Italy where it is characterised by colourful masks, parades, amusing jokes and games. Molise celebrates the Carnival in a deeplysymbolic way.

At Carpinone, Roccasicura and Forli del Sannio, the carnival puppet “Fantoccio” is burned at the stake, in the main square of the village where a huge fire burns in front of the villagers.

At Sant'Agapito the “Fantoccio” is thrown off a cliff. At Castelnuovo al Volturno near Rocchetta al Volturno a man is dressed as a deer andis eventually caught by a hunter performing ceremonial rituals. At Tutara there is the procession of the devil.

Deer diguise performing ceremonial rituals

The cheese game of Vinchiaturo is something cheerer, in fact men competes in team by throwing large rounds of cheese of 15 km down the streets. This competition is called "Lancio della Ruzzola".

Cheese game: lancio della ruzzola

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

Our house in Abruzzo

2013-07-22T11:36:00.001+02:00

Story of a successful property purchase in Abruzzo

Village in Abruzzo

We always went to Italy for our holidays and loved the country. For several years I used to look at various property sites on the internet to get a feel of what you got for your money in the different regions.

In 2011 we spent 6 weeks travelling around Italy (also France, Spain and Malta) to make sure we definitely wanted to buy in Italy and then to settle on a region.

We decided upon southern Abruzzo and spent the next 6 months searching for the right property. We were looking for something to renovate as we had done this is the UK and it would be a project for us.

We nearly bought a charming house in the mountains but as on one trip it was under offer we found a complete ruin only one mile from the sea and a wonderful promenade. Then the one in the mountain came back on the market so we had a dilemma. We sat at the airport pondering the pros and cons of both but the one near the beach won and we have never regretted it....

Only 35 minutes from the airport and 2 miles from the motorway exit and you can even walk to the station. Also the weather seemed more settled there. Shops not far and the nearest large town only 10 minutes drive. We hit it lucky too with the estate agent's assistant who dealt with our sale. She was very proactive and kept us informed of progress all the way along.

We employed an italian solicitor in London and he dealt with all the legal side and selected the notary in Italy and the sale went through relatively smoothly. I would do this again as he acted solely for us whereas the notary acts for the state. The agent helped us with the codice fiscale and opening an Italian bank account. I researched and found a foreign currency broker, which has been great and hassle free in purchasing euros and transferring money over to wherever in Italy at a moments notice.

We made the offer in November, completed in person the following March and started the renovation in June. We used a local geometra to check out a few things for us and I think the one we found was exceptional, we asked about his past projects and he put us in touch with a previous client. He thoroughly recommended him and he turned out to be fantastic and transformed our ruin to one to move into in only six months.

Most of our communications was done by email with a couple of visits in between. He would send us regular updates with photos and we made stage payments via our foreign currency broker in the UK so we could transfer funds the same day.

My language skills are that of an intermediate but it has improved as the whole renovation was communicated in Italian. I think the secret of a successful renovation has been finding a trustworthy and competent geometra (who has since become a firm friend). He stuck to his estimate, any extras being changes we instigated.

The locals are so friendly and we have made several friends there already, mainly Italian but also expats like us. We have sourced things in local shops and that helps us integrate into the local village. We used someone found on an Abruzzo expat site to transport some furniture out.

We probably will spend about a third of our time there (we have our children and good friends in the UK, and wouldn't want to leave them permanently), sometimes going by car and the rest by plane, cheap flights are always available.

We love the beauty and variety of the region, rolling hills, mountains, agricultural landscapes, mountains, sea, climate of course.
We can ski in a resort which is only one hour away.
We retired just before the house was finished. We now have years to explore the many villages and towns nearby and venture to Naples, Rome and the south just a few hours away.

Starting from scratch with a ruin has been a challenge but so rewarding seeing the end result.

We now also have a new interest as we have a small vineyard and we are slowly learning about vitriculture with the help of the previous owner/farmer. My husband has just completed a course on vineyard maintenance at our local (UK) agricultural college. We have also started to have friends and family stay with us when we are there and doubtless to say the children will use the place more when they get their own families.

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

Sweet Fiadoni Easter Pastry

2013-07-07T15:18:00.002+02:00

Ingredients
________________________________________

For pastry dough
2 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
Four as needed (about 1 1/2 cups)

For filling
1 egg
1 container of ricotta, strained
4 teaspoons sugar

* Fiadone (singular) or fiadoni (plural) were originally known as "h'iatun'" or "hiadone" in the Molise countryside. However tourist brochures from this region now refer to them as "fiadone." On the world-wide web this style of cheese pastry has many different names, including: fiadone con ricotta, fiadone al ricotta, fiadone di ricotta, fiadoni con ricotta, fiadoni al ricotta, fiadoni di ricotta, fiadone dolce, and sweet fiadone.

Directions
________________________________________

Mix the pastry dough ingredients and work into a fine dough.
Let the dough rest for four to six hours.
Divide the dough into small portions and pass it through the pasta machine (but not to the last number, should not be too thin). Pastry dough resembles lasagna noodles.
Pipe small mounds of filling on pastry noodle; cut into portions.
Press together pastry pockets with fork.
Make tiny air vents on top of the pastry pockets.
Brush with beaten egg.
Bake in a shallow greased and floured pan in a 325 degree oven for fifteen to twenty minutes.

Italian video recipe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8CWDGqq6V4

Source: Abruzzo Rural Property

Life style in Abruzzo and Molise

Character palazzo for sale with amazing original floor tiles and frescos...

Restored apartment with terrace in Italian palazzo.

Property virtual tour: Country villa with pool, garden and olive grove i...

Italian Property Virtual Tour: historic palazzo with garden and olive gr...

Italian palazzo for sale in the pretty town of Agnone, Molise region of Italy.

How to Buy Property in Italy During Covid - USA Clients Testimonial

House Hunters International - Time to Chill in Abruzzo, Italy

View from town house for sale in Palmoli, Italy. Ref.: PA1099

The incredible snowfall that has hit Abruzzo in January 2017

Agnone and its traditonal winter fires

Abruzzo region, its shores and the unique Trabocchi coast.

Dairy La Fonte Nuova, local cheese of Molise

A successful story of property purchase in Abruzzo

An Italian alternative vehicle: APE 50

Abruzzo Rural Property promotional video

A Traditional Jewellery from Abruzzo: La Presentosa

Do you know that in Abruzzo you can find a beautiful, traditional jewellery called Presentosa?

Carnival in Abruzzo and Molise – Pagan rituals and Medieval characters

Our house in Abruzzo

Story of a successful property purchase in Abruzzo

Sweet Fiadoni Easter Pastry

Do you know that in Abruzzo you can find a beautiful,
traditional jewellery called Presentosa?