Lucito Respects

Lucito has an ageing population, a state of affairs now becoming commonplace in the small southern region of Molise, as younger people are struggling to scrape a living there. 

Lucito 

The village tries annually to show its senior members respect, by throwing a party.

Three senior gentlemen carried the wreath, and flag from the village social club to the war memorial.

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Molise shows its RESPECT with a Trumpet salute which rang out over the village.

Eat, Drink and Be MERRY

In Molise food is an essential part of celebrating, and everyone invited along enjoyed an excellent repast, all cooked with dedication and passion by an army of local women.

                                       Pasta Arabbiata

                                        Veal and Peas

                                     Grapes and Melon

  

                             served with wine and water   

The buzz of village life, local people happily chatting, waiting to enjoy an afternoon of fun and food.

 

Lucito Rockstars played music all afternoon entertaining everyone.

Accomplished musicians playing the guitar, keyboards, flute, accordion along with some vibrant, and raucous singing kept everyone entertained throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

 
Tapping feet, and swirling, twirling couples flew around the floor.

The local band played from early afternoon through to evening when another group took over and their dancers stepped in to take over.

                                   And the party plays on 

One day of many......

From my perspective, the highlight of the day was meeting CARLO CONTINILLO, a gentleman of ninety-five, now the most senior citizen in Lucito.

He spoke to me in a quiet, kind gentle voice about his love of the countryside, and his life in Lucito, having lived there all his life he has a lot to share.

Proud now that he has reached the status of the most senior citizen something he richly deserves.

There is much more to Carlo than the light that still twinkles brightly in his eyes.

He proudly told me about his poetry, which I am able to copy down here with his permission

I look forward to meeting with him again to learn more about his life in Molise and be able to relate more of his tales.

IL MIO PAESE  "LUCITO"

Sui dolci pendii del colle

Coperti da manto boscoso

Sorge Lucito mio, Patria natia

Che spazia solenne la valle ubertosa

Nel paesello mio mia collina

Giace la mamma mia col babbo caro!

Lo l'amo tanto, veramente tanto;

Mestizia vien con malinconia

Sorge grazioso sopra un colle ameno

E mira ardito il Matese e l'Appennino

Da cui ricere il gelo e quanta brina

E la frescura dolce in sul mattino

Nei giorno lunghi afosi dell'Estate

Lucito mio e il nome amato 

Dal Sud al Nord ai piedi suoi si snoda

Il piccolo Biferno ondeggiante,

E dona a chi concede la fortuna

di rimarla specie a Primavera

Nell'alma tanta pace e un gaudio al cuore

Il popol che ci vive, il popol mio

Cui voglio tanto bene immensamente 

E semplice, gentile, onesto e buono

Lavora i campi per la maggior parte

Insieme alla gente mia che e Lucitese

Per noi tu sei il piu del Molise

Tu sei come un Santo in Paradiso

Abbiamo vie e piazze che son amore

Ed il corso pieno d'alberi e di fiori

Sembra un tappeto fatto da un pittore

D'inverno che ti metti il manto bianco

Tu sei la stella dei paesi a fianco

Tutti mi sono amici tanto cari

I miei concittadini laboriosi

Pero ad onor del vero devo dire

Che piu di tutto, stringo con vigore

Dei contradini c'hanno il cuore d'oro 

CARLO CONTINILLO

THANK YOU 

Molise, those summer nights

Molise ... Those summer nights

 Molise does EXCIST 

Molise you have so much to offer.

I have only just started out on my quest to make a life here and to help put Molise on the map for discerning travellers and explorers who want to see something different.

Here in Molise you have it all...beaches, mountains, castles, excellent food and wine.. something for everyone.

I know some are a little possessive and want to keep Molise's secrets hidden from the world, afraid that if publicised Molise will become like Tuscany, Lombardy or Rome

But you something really has to be done as there is so much hidden away and so much that is going to waste.

This summer I have been overwhelemed by all the events and festivals there are.

Wild west Shows, Straw Theatre, Outside Cinema, Comedy, Music and Fireworks

In fact there are so many I cannot fit them all in, and on many occasions have been to several events in one day.

Some events have been a little disappointing, no names mentioned. They are all  FREE too ... something you rarely  find in the UK.

But on the whole they are well organised,  and the food and drink is cheap and plentiful.

Sadly food like chips are all too common place ... Somethings do change !!! ( Here in Campobasso and Termoli there are shops selling CHIPS with a variety of sauces.. You can even have NUTELLA on your CHIPS... I have not tried it YET,



The whole family goes along too, and participates in whatever is going on.

Molise you are amazing.. Share your riches, and reap the benefits

Molise, merely women

Last week I was in Lucito helping the women of the village carry a statue around the village.

I was greatly impressed by the fortitude and solidarity of the women both young and not so young.

 

In contrast this week I  discovered a plethora of art and culture in the village of Castelbottaccio.

It is  virtually on my doorstep as my house sits on the hillside between the two villages of Lucito and Castelbottaccio.


 On two consecutive evenings in late July
local people were treated to art through  literature,comedy and satire. 

The first was the presentation of the work of the artist Federica Gonnelli http://www.federicagonnelli.it/   fThis was following her residency in the village last year, which was organised  by the group
VIS aVis www.limitinchusi.jimdo.com

They organise and fund residencies every year for artists, who travel to the region from all over the world.


Federica hails from Florence, one of the most prestigious art and cultural centres of  the world. She doesn't express her art on a flat page but through photography, video and in other three dimensional forms.

I spoke with Federica too about  Molise.. 
She told me how much she had enjoyed staying in the village, and marvelled at everyones generosity,  friendliness. 

Living in Florence,  she often spends time in the Tuscan countryside but said how she too had fallen  in love with Molise.

When I met she had just returned to present her project formally to the village and enjoy once more their generous hospitality.

You can see her video and some of her work on her FACEBOOK page. If you visit the village you can see those connected with the VIS e VIS project in the town hall..

 Here in Molise it is almost obligatory to provide food for any event, large or small. The region's food is exceptional, and this event was no exception. A reputable feast was set out on tables in front of  the town hall and everyone tucked into with relish.

There clearly seemed to be a sense of communal pride in Federicà's project too,which was such a pleasure to witness. Art, culture and music, something for everyone.

What next? 

Well for Federica it means leaving Molise's  kaleidoscope of colour  to head back to Florence where she is starting work on another project. Life moves on, but she will always remember with fondness her time in Castelbottaccio

In  the words of the Spanish artist Salvador Dali an artist is not one who inspires but one who inspires others. It is certainly apparent in Castelbottaccio that Federica was an inspiration to others.

The festivities were not one evening but several. When they party here in Molise they certainly do it in style.

The second evening in a small courtyard tucked away in the centre of the village the annual literary event was held hosted  in honor of Donna Olympia Frangipane.

She was a woman of fortitude who in the eighteenth century stood up against the system.
 A motivational force too for others she hosted political and philosophical debates at the castle in the village putting herself and others in jeopardy. This culminated in  arrests and a threat of capital punishment which ultimately was not carried out.

There was no doubt that she was a woman of substance, whose life impacted significantly on the tumultuous regional politics of the time.

In Italy the situation regarding women is  ionic. The Catholic church ultimately respects the Virgin Mary most vehemently, as is the role of the Mother. She provides for the family and is therefore remains at the pivotal centre of the home.

Sadly however there is still a great deal of discrimination regarding women, but villages like Lucito which has had a woman as Mayor for many years, and I am sure that many will follow in her footsteps.

The winning stories from the literary competition were announced, and read aloud with passion and intensity by Palma Spina outstanding actress and comedian .

once again a delectable feast of regional specialities was served, and everyone tucked in contently.

finally to conclude the evening's events Palma presented her own show, which was absolutely outstanding. A cocktail of humour, and political satire it certainly hit the mark and the whole audience whose age varied widely certainly lapped it up.

Once more Molise has amazed  me, another little village, just a few miles along the road has shown me there is certainly more to Molise than meets the eye

Thank you everyone in Castelbottaccio



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