Holiday homes in Puglia/Molise - private accommodation to rent

Surrounded by mountains, the remote and traditional region of Molise has its own customs and dialect. The cultural influences of this area are diverse – and some villages here struggle to understand each other’s heavy dialects. Traditional costumes are still worn by the women in this isolated and almost unexplored region of Italy. It is a place to enjoy slowly, the spectacular scenery of the Matese is a mixture of snow-topped mountains, pine forests and tranquil lakes. Puglia is the south’s hidden gem, its landscape including plains, forests and dramatic cliffs. The area bears the influence of Frederick II, the man who commissioned the ‘Divine Comedy’ and who built the castles that scatter the landscape. His patronage of the arts, tolerance and sense of justice remain legendary. The architecture of this area ranges from Greek ruins to Byzantine splendour. The food here has a good reputation throughout Italy – with excellent seafood and ricotta washed down with full-bodied wine. You can visit Frederick’s capital Foggia and the Gargano peninisula. Long considered holy ground the area is home to Monte Sant’Angelo, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Italy while nearby Bari offers a quicker pace of life with its wealthy inhabitants making their passeggiata down Corso Cavour.