Pizzone, Province Isernia, Molise, Italy

The first historical mention of the center as "Piczotum" in the "Chronicon Volturnense" of the 12th century. It seems that the monks had moved in the 10th centuries peasants from Marsica to the area and these latter had built villages called Iannini, Roccasecca, Cerquacupa and Viscurri. Under the Anjou it was a fiefdom of Andrea d'Isernia and in 1320 Pizzone was united to Abruzzo Citra (presently Province of Chieti). Later on it passed to the Della Leonessa family, then to the Caldoras and finally to the Cestori. The economy was based on the territory, made of pastures and forests, therefore for centuries the main resources were timber and firewood and livestock, especially cows. Pizzone belongs to the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo since 1929, and Vallefiorita, a plateau at 1400 meters above sea level surrounded by centuries-old forests, as well as the Meta mountains and the dolomite-like Mainarde peaks attract more tourists every year.