Tufara, Province Campobasso, Molise, Italy

Lying in the Fortore valley on the itinerary from the mountains of Abruzzo and Molise to the plains of Apulia, Tufara was always dependent on the transhumance economy prevalent in Abruzzo and Molise up to very recent times. There is a very deep worship among the population of San Giovanni Eremita, celebrated on 28 august and on 12 and 14 November: on these days the women collect "blessed" water from a fountain and use it to make a dough from which they form "panelle" believed to act as a protection against evil and disease.

History - Archeological remains going back to the 1st century BC point to a very ancient origin, and the place probably refers to "tuff" one of the main geological features of the area. In the Middle Ages Tufara was a fortress of the Lombards, as shown by the ruins of the castle; the first lords recorded were the Marzano until 1299, followed by the Gambatesa, Carafa and Pignatelli families. Until 1807 the village belonged to the Province of Capitanata.