Capracotta - Capracotta

Capracotta is a center of the Molise.

To know

Its location at 1,421 meters above sea level makes it after Rocca di Cambio, the highest town in the Apennines. It is part of the Authentic Villages of Italy.

Geographical notes

In theUpper Molise, is 17 km from Agnone, 29 from Roccaraso, 28 from Castel di Sangro, 41 from Isernia.

When to go

In winter it is not difficult to come across snowstorms, especially in the months of January and February. This is why Capracotta is also known in Central-Southern Italy as il land of storms. The snow cover can easily exceed one meter. In March 2015, 256 centimeters fallen in just 18 hours were detected, however this figure is considerably overestimated, and the standard measurements recorded a value of "only" 90-120 cm.

Background

The oldest traces of human presence in the territory of the municipality of Capracotta date back to the Paleolithic: in the Morrone locality Neanderthal man's hunting tools were found, while the first permanent settlement dates back to the 9th century BC. It is an inhabited center found in the course of five excavation campaigns promoted by the Superintendence for the Archaeological Heritage of Molise between 1979 and 1985 near the Source of the Romito. Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of a site with a vitality of about a thousand years: from some circular huts of the 9th century BC. a marble buildings from the 1st century AD placed in a well-planned urban context.

The current town of Capracotta, on the other hand, was born on the spur of Terra Vecchia in the early decades of the Middle Ages during the Lombard conquest of Southern Italy (late 6th-early 7th century AD). It developed in the following centuries through the practice of transhumance, that is the winter movement of the herds from the heights of theAbruzzo at the Tavoliere delle Puglia. During the Second World War Capracotta was almost entirely destroyed by the German troops retreating towards the Val di Sangro with fire and dynamite.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By plane

• Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Via dell 'Fiumicino Airport, 320, ☎ 39 06 65951. 
• Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP), Viale F. Ruffo di Calabria, 80144 Naples NA, ☎ 39 081 7896111. 
• Pescara airport (Abruzzo International Airport), Via Tiburtina Km 229.100, ☎ 39 085 4324201. 

By car

• Toll booth of San Vittore on the Autostrada del Sole for those coming from the north; then direction Venafro - Isernia - Fondovalle Trigno direction Vasto - Pescolanciano - Capracotta exit
• Toll booth of Caianello on the Autostrada del Sole for those coming from the south; follow the direction Venafro - Isernia - Fondovalle Trigno direction Vasto - Pescolanciano - Capracotta exit
• Pratola Peligna toll booth on the Rome-Pescara motorway; then follow Roccaraso - Castel di Sangro - S.Pietro Avellana - Capracotta
• Toll booth Val di Sangro on the Adriatic motorway for those coming from the north; then follow the Fondovalle Sangro towards Castel di Sangro. Rosello - Capracotta exit.
• Toll booth Vast south on the Adriatic motorway for those coming from the south; then follow the Fondovalle Trigno towards Isernia. Pescolanciano - Capracotta exit.

On the train

• Railway station of Isernia (about 40 km away): Direct connections with Rome and Naples.

Continue by bus with the "Lariviera" bus lines.

By bus

• It has bus connections to Agnone, Isernia is Pescopennataro.

How to get around

What see

• Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta. 
• Church of Sant'Antonio di Padova. 
• Church of San Giovanni Battista. 
• Sanctuary of the Madonna of Loreto. 
• Church of San Vincenzo Ferreri. 
• Country chapel of Santa Lucia. 

Sites of naturalistic interest

• Garden of the Apennine flora. It is a natural botanical garden located at 1550 m a.s.l. It is among the highest in Italy.

Established in 1963 from an idea by Valerio Giacomini, it was created by Paolo Pizzolongo. The symbol of the garden is the Lobelius maple (Acer lobelii). 

• Prato Gentile. 
• Verrino River Park. 
• Pescobertino nature reserve. 
• Source of the Zolfa water. 
• Municipal villa. 

Events and parties

• Madonna of Loreto. September 8. 
• Pied. first Sunday of August. festival of grilled lamb and boiled sheep with aromatic herbs 
• Patronal feast of San Sebastiano. second Sunday of July. The Saint's feast day is January 20, but his feast was already moved first to July 13, then to the second Sunday in July to be able to celebrate with the summer. 

What to do

Capracotta is an important climatic and ski resort.

• Ski run. It is a popular destination especially in winter for skiing, with tourists coming mainly from Lazio, fromAbruzzo and from Campania. The most common practice is that of cross-country skiing in Prato Gentile (1,573 m.), On the slopes of Monte Campo (1,746 m.), At the prestigious cross-country stadium "Mario Di Nucci", which in 1997 hosted the Championships absolute Italians and in 2004 the European Cup. From that locality, three slopes of varying difficulty branch off (mountain ring, valley ring and tourist ring), for a total length of over 15 km.

Since 1995, alpine skiing systems have been installed on the slopes of Monte Civetta, at the confluence with Monte Capraro (1,730 m.), Which include:

• Monte Civetta chairlift
• "Piana del Monte" ski lift

These two chairlifts lead to the following slopes:

• Monte Capraro (1630-1380 meters)
• Piana del Monte (1560 m.)
• Slope under the mountain (1380 m.) 

Shopping

Among the more traditional activities there are artisanal ones, which although not as widespread as in the past have not completely disappeared, and are distinguished by the art of weaving aimed at the production of blankets.

How to have fun

Where to eat

Average prices

• Il Ginepro Restaurant, Via Vallesorda, ☎ 39 0865 945368, fax: 39 0865 945140, @[email protected]. "Dish of good memory" - Sagne and Capracotta lentils 
• L'Elfo restaurant, Via Luigi Campanelli, ☎ 39 0865 949131, @[email protected]. Closed on Mondays. Characteristic restaurant in the town center, traditional cuisine and an extensive wine list. 
• "La Pineta - da Tony" restaurant, The Watched (Sports Facilities Area), ☎ 39 0865 949312, 39 340 7664258. Closed on Wednesday. Surrounded by greenery, typical mountain dishes. 
• La Traversa Pizzeria Restaurant, Piazza E. Gianturco, ☎ 39 0865 94226, 39 338 8348861, @[email protected]. Typical local cuisine, wood oven.. Closed on Wednesday (low season only). 
• Prato Gentile Refuge, Location Prato Gentile, ☎ 39 0865 94216. Typical cross-country specialties. 

Where stay

Average prices

• Capracotta Hotel, Via Vallesorda, ☎ 39 0865 945368, fax: 39 0865 945140, @[email protected]. 
• B & B BiancaNeve, Via Vallesorda, ☎ 39 0865 943120, 39 335 482526, @[email protected]. 
• "Guado Cannavina" farmhouse, Contrada Macchia, 11, ☎ 39 0865 949135, @[email protected]. 

Safety

Pharmacy

• Municipal, Falconi Square, ☎ 39 0865 945116. 

How to keep in touch

Post office

• Stanislao Falconi Square 40, ☎ 39 0865 949218. 

Around

• Agnone - Ancient Samnite city, known worldwide for the traditional and centuries-old artisan construction of bells, has an interesting historic center and an expanding tourist infrastructure.
• Castel di Sangro - It was a Roman city, then a fief of the Borrellos; the ruins of the medieval castle and the nearby megalithic walls testify to the past greatness of port of Abruzzo.
• Roccaraso - Its ski facilities, belonging to the Alto Sangro ski area, make it one of the major mountain tourist resorts of the entire Apennines.
• Isernia - Among the first documented Paleolithic settlements in Europe, it was then a flourishing Samnite city, capital of the Italic League, later a Roman Municipium. Its millennial past has left it with an important monumental heritage that extends up to the pre-Roman era, as well as very important prehistoric finds.

Itineraries

• Castles in the province of Isernia - There are numerous manors of theMolise Apennines in the countries ofUpper Molise, ofIsernino he was born in Venafrano. Some are in ruins due to war or earthquakes; others have been recovered; many have a military aspect, with little or no external architectural evolution of transformation into a stately home.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Capracotta
• Commons contains images or other files on Capracotta
• Wikiquote contains quotes from or about Capracotta

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