
	Regions	Landmarks	Images	Tourism	Genealogy
Region Molise Province Isernia SANTA MARIA DEL MOLISE

Santa Maria del Molise, Province Isernia, Molise, Italy

The municipality consists of two very different centers: Santa Maria, at 632 meters above sea level, mostly covered with vineyards, and originally a Samnite and later a Roman settlement and Sant'Angelo in Grotte on a mountain at 980 m. a.s.l., surrounded by forests and dependent for its economy on pastures and livestock, which rose in the Middle Ages. Probably the Samnite and Romans settled in the more fertile plain. Later on, when the danger of invasions increased, the inhabitants moved to a higher position on the hill of Sant'Angelo in Grotte. In the 12th century a fiefdom of the Santangelo, it passed then to the Caldora and Di Sangro. In the 20th century then the municipality was moved from Sant'Angelo to Santa Maria, down in the plain.

Info

Altitude: 632 m a.s.l -- Territory: mountainous -- Population: ca. 800 inhabitants -- Zip/postal code: 86090 -- Phone Area Code: 0865
Patron Saints: SS. Maria Filippo and Giacomo -- Frazioni & Località: Cagnacci, Pagliarelle, Sant'Angelo in Grotte, Pizzillitti

What to see

Roman Villa
Parish church of San Pietro in Vincoli; almost completely covered in frescoes dating back to the 14th century, representing "Works of mercy". Also the srypt can show beautiful paintings, as a view of the city of Bethlehem.
At Sant’Angelo in Grotte, about 4000 ft above sea level, there is a spring of "holy" water, an ancient crypt and the grotto San Michael the Archangel who, according to the legend, while driving the devil down into the earth, would have liked to stop here. But God wanted him instead to go to Monte Sant'Angelo in Apulia, so the Archangel crossed the through a natural tullel exiting just above Macchiagodena and flew to Apulia.

Events

1 May, feast of Santa Maria, San Filippo and San Giacomo, with a fair of goods and livestock and fireworks to finish.

More ...

Surnames in Santa Maria del Molise