Do visit the Museum of Santa Maria delle Monache, Isernia, where they are still unearthing one of the most important prehistoric sites in the whole of Europe. In the Palazzo Orlando in Isernia is a huge model of a mammoth, symbol of over 700,000 years of prehistoric or Palaeolithic activity in the region.

The excavations and scientific work has been going on for more than 15 years and the many artefacts found reveal that some of the oldest inhabitants of Europe were from this part of the Appennines. The scientists have been able to discern that these 'Homo Erectus' lived in small family groups of 15-20 people.

Dominated by the male who would hunt, the females would gather vegetables and fruit. They were semi-nomadic and shared the land with bears, wild boars, rhinoceros and hippopotamus.

Taking place at Campobasso in the first week of June is Corpus Domini. It is probably the most important of all the festivals in the region and involves a procession of 13 'Misteri'.

These are moving depictions of sacred events and miracles originally created by Paolo Saverio Di Zinno in 1740 and are represented by children suspended on iron and wooden structures which parade through the town.

They range from the apparition of the angels to San Crispino to the two ploughs with which Saint Isodoro enchanted the owner of the land he was working on. In all they are homages to S.Isidoro, S. Crispino, S. Gennaro, Abramo, Maria Maddalena, S. Antonio Abate, Immacolata, S.Leonardo, S. Rocco, Assunta, S.Michele, S. Nicola and SS. Cuore di Gesù.

Frosolone is practically equidistant between the cities of Campobasso and Isernia. It was once in the province of Campobasso, but it is now part of Isernia, although we believe any family records would remain where they were originally recorded.

Frosolone was reconstructed after the earthquake of 1805 and the main appointment of the year is the 'Sagra dei Peperuoli e Baccalà' during May. That's dry salted cod. Visitors should also look out for the mysterious wind park or 'Centrale Eolica, as well as the knife works or 'Coltelleria'.

The 'Fuochi di San Antonio' or 'Fires of Saint Anthony' is an ancient festival of folklore which takes place across south Italy every 17th January from Puglia to Sardinia, but also Abruzzo and Molise where it has a profound meaning. Essentially, discarded old wood collected by local children is set alight in strategic bonfires around the towns.

The parish priest blesses the pyre closest to the church, then takes a torch to each pyre in turn. The local population congregate around the fires and wistfully tell old stories and anticipate the future.

The fires also take place in Sardinia on the eve of the 17th, the day which honors Saint Anthony. Bonfires are also lit and people celebrate throughout the night. The fires are made of different wood depending on the village eg rosemary brushwood or large hollow tree trunks called 'sas tuvas'. The gathering of the firewood is a ritual in itself and begins several days before.

As is widely known modern Italian sounds as it does because the Italian dialect of Renaissance Florence conquered the rest of the peninsular. Yet, it would have been a lot more fun if deepest Molisan had somehow triumphed. Try these phrases in Molise dialect over the next couple of months:

'Nia negghia de Nuvèmbre fa calà da l'aliva'. Alternatively 'La nebbia di novembre fa calare l'olio nelle olive or 'November mists cause the olives to loose their oil'.

'Mò vè Decèmbre: 'nnante te scalle é réte tte ngénere'. Alternatively 'Adesso arriva dicembre: davantiti sti caldi e dietro t'incenerisci or 'Now winter is coming: you're front will be warmed, while your backside will be turned to ashes'.

'Si ggennàare sta 'nghe la camisce, marze sscoppie da la rise'. Alternatively 'Se gennaio sta in camicia, marzo scoppia dalle risa', or 'if you're alright with just a shirt in January, in March you'll be laughing your head off'.

"My husband and I are interested in traveling to the Tammaro Valley Region. What sought of places of interest are in this area and what types of hotels or bed & breakfasts?"

The Tammaro River collects the waters from the lower central Apennines and heads towards Benevento in Campania. The valley is called the 'High Plain of Sepino' and it is the town of Sepino itself which should be the base for our reader's visit.

New Sepino was built following Saracen attacks in the 9th century which left Roman Saepinium a bad memory. It is a archaeological complex of some note featuring a basilica, temples, shops, theater. Perhaps the giveaway are the thermal baths which still draw people for a relaxing weekend.

Those Romans never went anywhere without a few home luxuries. Nevertheless, the ruins from 293BC have to be seen.