Does anybody know why Rick Steves does not include Molise in his guide book?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
All guidebooks are selective, and Rick's perhaps more so, keeping it manageable both for him and the average American vacation. At 1250 pages, the book is maxed out. The Michelin Green Guide for Italy give the Molise region one page of coverage, focused on a scenic drive.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15182 posts
Originally, the Italian constitution provided that only one region should exist, the "Abruzzi e Molise". Much like Emilia-Romagna is one region that combines two (Emilia and Romagna), or also Trentino-Alto Adige or Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Then in 1963 the constitution was changed and with that amendment it provided that 2 distinct regions would co-exist.
Anyhow, Rick Steves doesn't cover a lot of places.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Why not split it into two books: Northern and Central Italy, Southern Italy and Sicily? Include Rome in both.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Yes, I would buy two books on Italy!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Laura, pass it up the chain, please.
Posted by
Chicago
1949 posts
Although we will probably not visit on this upcoming trip late winter to Rome & Sorrento, my paternal grandfather's family was from Campobasso in Molise. For my paternal grandmother's family, I did some geneological work last year in Sant' Arsenio up in the foothills SE of Salerno in Campania, but was able to make it a day trip. To Campobasso, it's 3+ hours from Rome by train, then another 4+ to Sorrento after that. No Freccia trains heading that way, or from there for that matter. But I'll visit sometime, I'm sure...
I've seen videos of Campobasso, and frankly it looks like a larger version of what I saw in Sant' Arsenio. Yes, there's plenty of history and beauty if you look for it, but mostly just working Italians living their lives. Not much reason to go for any extended period of time with so many other scenic areas closer to the coasts unless it's to research family.
The good thing, however, is that these areas are almost devoid of tourists in the off-season, and probably not that crowded even from May-September. When visiting Sant' Arsenio in March of last year virtually no one spoke English, and it was quite the experience to really utilize my broken Italian, which I really didn't have to do in Florence, Rome or even down in Salerno, with so much English spoken everywhere.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Jay, my mom's family was from Campobasso!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15813 posts
Holy cow. Zoe and Jay may have some common DNA!
Posted by
Eugene, Oregon...Formerly Ventura, CA
2261 posts
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15182 posts
Jay and Zoe may also be related to some other Molisano Italian American
Posted by
Chicago
1949 posts
"Just a little bit..." :::holding thumb & forefinger a half-inch apart:::
Posted by
Chicago
1949 posts
I've learned from past experience that if I'm going to make a side trip for an overnight, there had better be a little chicken at the end of the road. Without getting specific, all I got when doing this research thing before was a lot of stretching of the truth--which Italians have honed to an art form--and people with their hands held out for baksheesh.
No disrespect, Roberto, I'm Italian myself!