The music at the start of this blog is dedicated to Pierluigi Russo - a local guy passionate about the history of Molise and in particular the Morge area. The haunting melodies of Celtic music resonant the intricacies of the area's complex history.
The event was an introduction to the work of a local botanist written two hundred years ago Giosue Scaranno wrote at length about the flora and fauna of the region. presented by enthusiastic botanists from neighbouring Abruzzo they were a fountain of knowledge and an inspiration.
The day was not merely to illustrate the work of an ancient scientist but to bring to the attention of people here in Molise just what they have sitting on their doorstep.
A large rock called a Morge in the Molise region. They are unique to the region and do not exist anywhere else in the world. If you excuse the comparison they are rather like a large pimple that literally erupted from the earth several thousand years ago. Literally spread across Molise they vary in size tremendously from not much more than a few metres high to over 50 metres.
The Morge dei la Briganti, sits beside a popular, and exceptionally good restaurant run by Luigi Cicarella. In Italy country restaurants like this are called agriturismo, so is a farm with a restaurant and must by law produce all their own food. (see food blog Taste of Molise)
The huge rock sits proudly surveying the countryside surrounding it as it has done for centuries, once a garrison which stood with fortitude and strength in many a battle, it then became a refuge for local bandits and a home for local peasant farmers.
There are caves carved into the rock, some of which date back to its origins as a castle and others much later.
At the top there is even a small chapel or temple which can still be reached, although with some difficulty.
You are free to climb around it exploring every nook and cranny, which is quite a novelty for any visitor from the Northern Europe as we are used to barriers and safety announcements telling us that we can't climb or even touch cave or castle.
The rock yields a great deal of interest in other areas too, one of which is the amazing array of fossils easily seen both inside and outside the caves. The geology of the rocks and the impact which both man and the passage of time have had on them too are clearly evident.
Today more than forty people came to see the rock, which was a great achievement for the local organiser Roberto Colleto who works tirelessly to promote the interests of the region.
The flora and fauna of Molise is exceptionally beautiful. There is an incredibly diverse range of flowers and plants, some unique to the area. We were even shown one that smells like goat's cheese!
So much to learn and so much to see, there is something here for everyone.
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| Search for fossils in the rocks |
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