To talk of the Molise region is to talk of the mountains that isolate it from the rest of Italy, of small forests, lakes, rivers and springs, but among the most beautiful and unspoilt of the Biferno valley and of the Italian peninsula. The Biferno is the only river entirely in Molise in which near its sources it is still possible to fish for trout. Talking about Molise also means talking about the Tratturi, the ancient paths of transhumance, of which traces still remain today and which travelled in spring and autumn by the herds strongly characterized the zone and marked the passing of the seasons in a sort of slow rhythm. No less important are the Molisan towns with poetical names such as Guardialfiera, Civitacampomarano, Provvidenti, Morrone del Sannio, Ripalimosani, Castropignano, Tavenna, Frosolone, and many others. Civitacampomarano has been recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and is a small village which seems to stretch itself out, lazily, along a wooded ridge at the top of which rises the severe chateau built in the Angevin era, with its castle that fills this very beautiful and marvellous Italian village.

Guardialfiera is another marvellous town which winds slowly over the ground and seems to want to touch the lake at its feet in a gesture eternally disappointed and which many times has inspired painters, photographers, poets, writers but above all many dreamers keen to caress with a palm of their hand that clear and crystalline water that beneath it hides one of the most important treasures of the world: the famous Hannibal’s Bridge and many houses from that era.

All the towns in this region (Molise), have something to tell, to show or to offer in the architecture of the churches, the monasteries, the squares, the decoration of the doors, the wrought iron work on balconies, even the compactness of the houses, the typical tiles on their roofs, the extreme simplicity of the sandstone and limestone or rendered walls. Just as expressive are the temporary dwellings, the shepherds’ huts, hanging on to slopes and blending with the rocky environment that surrounds them, of a structure similar to that of ‘trulli’ or those of the interior of the Marche region, most consisting of a single room and built with layers of stone.

Besides selling properties, Agricola Enterprise has gained experience over the years with the work done in the region Marche by its team with origins both in Molise and in the Marche.

And in our method of work we believe that old houses need to be used as starting points for new ways of life.

HOUSES IN OLD TOWN CENTRES, FARMHOUSES AND RUINS

For the company AGRICOLA ENTERPRISE s.r.l. restoration means work to be done on an existing building, which must have particular architectural qualities such as to be defined as “irreplaceable” and which must be recovered for its intrinsic historical value of typological testimony and environmental value.

A FEW NOTES ON GUARDIALFIERA

 The territory of this municipality extends for about 41 sq km in the province of Campobasso (province and Capital of the Molise region about 50km away) It is at about 285 m a.s.l. and the highest part is Serra Guardiola which is about 669 m a.s.l..

It borders to the north with Castelmauro, to the north-east with Palata and Acquaviva Collecroce, to the east with Larino, to the south with Casacalenda, to the south-west with Lupara and to the west with Civitacampomarano; it is about 25km from Termoli with its railway station, bus routes, taxis, port, discotheques, ice cream parlours, pubs, bars, restaurants, pizzerias, camp sites, industrial zones, motorway and marvellous seaside locations.

The territory of Guardialfiera is mostly mountainous or hilly, and the soil is like that of the Marche region, quite heavy clay; the only flat part of the town is the valley floor filled with the waters of the Guardialfiera lake, near which the territory is crossed by a very convenient and fast highway known as the S.P. Bifernina.

From the social, economic and cultural point of view Guardialfiera was in a serious situation of backwardness, but it has to be said that there was rapid population growth especially in the first half of the period from 1901 to 1961 after which the population remained stable up to today with an average density of about 1183 per sq km.

From the economic point of view, as AGRICOLA ENTERPRISE s.r.l. we believe that it is still a mainly agricultural town; in fact the crops grown are: fruit and vegetables, cereals, grapes, pulses and olives and there are several olive presses and a mill.

There is also a good number of farms rearing sheep, pigs and cattle.

Industry is also present, although mostly small concerns such as olive presses, stone and marble workshops, a blind factory, shops selling camping goods, a camper and caravan repair workshop, and builders’ merchants.

In the town the businesses are:

• Council;

• Municipal Police;

• Carabinieri;

• Bank;

• Post Office;

• Museum;

• Library;

• Kindergarten;

• Elementary school;

• Middle school;

• Town Association (Pro Loco);

• Lake Association (Pro Lago);

• Religious Festival Committee;

• Guardialfiera Study Centre;

• Rescue Society (Società di Salvamento);

• public phone box;

• sports clubs;

• Disabled centre;

• Municipal gym;

• Sports field;

• Skating area;

• Bowls court;

• Tennis court;

• Municipal swimming pool;

• Pensioners’ circle.

• Festival of the Patron Saint Gaudentius (1 June);

• Opening of the Holy Gate (2 June);

• Saint Joseph’s Day (19 March);

• Saint Joseph the Artisan Patron Saint of workers (1 May);

• Saint Lawrence’s Day (10 August);

• Festival of the Blessed Virgin of Sorrows (12 August);

• Saint Anthony of Padua (13 August);

• Solemnity of Our Lady of the Assumption (15 August);

• Madonna del Carmine (13 September);

• The Immaculate Conception (8 December);

_ “ Living Crib”: one of the most beautiful in Europe played out in the evocative old town at the foot of the former cathedral in the Christmas period until Epiphany;

• Tradition of 5 January “A Pasquett”. The streets of the town in the night between 5 January and 6 January come alive with folksongs and traditional musical instruments to commemorate the journey and arrival of the Magi to pay homage to Jesus of Nazareth;

• Carnival Festival with parades of allegorical floats along the streets of the town;

• Agricultural fairs and cultural events in the days before holidays;

• Fireworks in the air and over the lake which are featured on holidays and especially on Saint Lawrence’s Night (Notte di San Lorenzo) on 10 August, when the lake is transformed into a scenario for master pyrotechnists;

• On the occasion of the Saint Joseph’s Day holiday (19 March), charity and hospitality are celebrated and renewed. Some families in the town are intent on preparing the traditional “Pasto di San Giuseppe” (Saint Joseph’s Meal) for all the inhabitants of the town and for foreigners who on this occasion can enjoy traditional foods and dishes as guests of these families. The dinner is divided into 13 dishes: “pasta con la mollica” (pasta with breadcrumbs) and baccalà (dried salt-cured cod) in sauce, chick peas, beans, rice with sultanas, green vegetables, potatoes with baccalà, mushrooms, earth snails, fried cod, lettuce, “agretto” (cod cooked in sweet and sour sauce with cinnamon, sultanas, almonds, vinegar), oranges with oil, salt and pepper, Florence fennel.

• To celebrate the 1st of May, the Day of Saint Joseph the Worker, besides firework displays, there is the “Sagra degli Sfringiune”, the festival of a typical leavened and fried pasta;

• on the Day of the Patron Saint Gaudentius there is a historical procession and a dramatic commemoration of the visit of Pope Leo IX to Guardialfiera, the opening of Porta Santa (the Holy Gate) and the sale of full perpetual indulgences;

• On the August Bank Holiday (15 August) there is an evocative candle-lit procession in the night in honour of Our Lady of the Assumption from the small rupestrian church near the wood to the cathedral;

Guardialfiera was founded in about the 10th century A.D. on the left bank of the River Biferno.

And thanks to a famous manuscript conserved in the archive of the Church of the Most Holy Apostles (S.S. Apostoli) in Naples, its existence can be traced back at least to the time of King Roger (Re Ruggiero).

The village had no fortress but a defensive wall with three gates and a castle, the home of the feudal lord although today not much can be seen of these.

As regards the origin of the name Guardialfiera, there have been several suggestions about its etymology; Guardia -Alfiera occurs several times in various diocesan papers, while in very old ecclesiastical documents of the 13^th century A.D. it was can be found with the name Guardia- Alfiera.

Certain information and ancient documents still in existence today were consecrated behind a Molisan stone plaque embedded in the bell tower of the former Cathedral, which broke when the bell tower collapsed in 1845 A.D., destroying some of the most beautiful artistic and architectural treasures of Molise.

Guardialfiera was also a diocese from about 1075 A.D. to 1818 A.D. and included various towns (Castelmauro, Palata, Acquaviva C.C., Lupara, Lucito, etc.) and there are only two Holy Gates in Italy of which one in Saint Peter’s (Vatican City), and the other at Guardialfiera in the Province of Campobasso which is opened once a year on 2nd June. The Holy Gate of Guardialfiera is still recognised today by Pope Benedict XVI thanks also to a number of manuscripts held in the Vatican archives, and one of the marvellous things about this town is that Guardialfiera, a small town with a population of about 1183 still preserves the heritage and the honour of having its own Bishop. And with these brief historical notes I hope I have answered some of your questions.