So you have decided to go to Molise, a small region of central-western Italy with a small coastline on the Adriatic sea and neighboring Abruzzi, Latium, Campania, and Apulia. This is not a very popular tourist area; perhaps that's all the more reason to visit and see the real Italy. If you like architecture why not visit the Cathedral of Larino, considered one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Italy? Larino also boasts a Ducal Palace, many fairs and festivals, and the remains of a Roman amphitheater.

The region's biggest city is Campobasso, an important battle site in World War II. Its main attraction is the mid-Fifteenth Century Castello Monforte. The city is home to a Cathedral and the recently restored Villa de Capoa gardens. Unlike many other parts of southern Italy, don't go there to escape the winter; it gets quite cold. Termoli is proud of its walled old city that goes out to sea. It's become a seaside resort popular with Italians. Isernia is a fine location for archeology buffs.

Molise produces three DOC wines. Pentro di Isernia near the town of that name is in the western slice (actually two slices) of this region. It may be red, white, or rosé and is made from a variety of local grapes. Biferno DOC is the region's most prestigious wine. It is made from a variety of grapes in most of the area east of the Biferno River. This wine may be red, white, or rosé. Molise DOC wine may be made from grapes grown anywhere in Molise. The wine is red, white, or rosé and comes in a variety of styles including frizzy, even the red. Little Molise is home to many grape varieties. Just the three wines mentioned above may be made with well over a dozen varieties. I recently reviewed wines from 19 of Italy's 20 regions. One of the best wines was a quite inexpensive Rami Di Majo Norante Falanghina del Molise that I would be happy to buy by the case if I could get it in my area.

Companies selling wine tours of Molise include Delicious Italy, Wine Tour Italia, and Info Hub.