The agriturismo Artemide, situated in the Appenine hills which overlook the Molisan Fortore valley, offers the ideal base for uncovering the hidden gems of this undiscovered region.

Starting from the wooden veranda joined to the restaurant dining rooms, you can enjoy the panoramic views over the valley; maybe while the children play on the swings, slide and trampoline of the adjacent playground. A table tennis table is also available for our guests.

Across the playground lawn you can watch the geese, ducks, chickens and guinea fowls roam under the fruit trees before taking the country lane into the Mazzocca woods with further playgrounds and a restaurant equipped with a swimming pool a few hundred yards further.

If a slightly longer walk takes your fancy, try the beautiful Decorata lake which is surrounded by oak woods and lies a few kilometres away.

Descending towards the Tammaro valley, at the foot of the Matese mountains, you can step into the past at the archeological site of Altilia, dating back to the Sabellian and Roman civilisations.

The road following the Tappino stream takes you directly to Campobasso, the capital city of Molise. Here, the historical buildings in the centre host a range of shops as well as the cathedral, the theatre Savoia and the council building Palazzo San Giorgio. From the centre, you can climb through alleyways and stairs all the way to the castle Monforte. Perched atop of the Monte hill, the castle offers magnificent views of the Appenine landscape and the city itself.

Within 60km is the hamlet of Bocca della Selva in the Matese regional park, a natural mountain paradise with both winter and summer attractions. The plateau of Campitello Matese lies around 80km away instead. From here you can reach Monte Miletto (2070m), the highest peak which lies on the border between Molise and Campania and from which you can enjoy the wonderful landscape of the Matese mountains.

The nearby town of Riccia will enchant you with its mediaeval tower and its museum of local life and crafts. Wind through the old town and follow in the footsteps of the 14th century ruling couple De Capua and Costanza di Chiaromonte. On the second Sunday in September, the unmissable sagra dell'uva takes place where the town and parading bands and floats celebrate the grape harvest and the start of the new wine production.

A few hills further across is the town of Jelsi with its annual parade on the 26th July. Decorated floats and yokes marking the grain harvest exhibit in the old town as part of a tradition dating back over 200 years.

Heading from the tower towards the historical base of the Bronze age Dauni tribe, you can stop by the town of Gambatesa in the valley of the Tappino stream. Its centre features a mediaeval castle, which also belonged to the De Capua family and was decorated with mythological frescoes by Donato da Copertino in the 16th century. From the castle's terrace, you can enjoy spectacular views over the Occhito lake which marks the border between Molise and Puglia. A special treat is the maitunat over New Year's Eve. In a tradition which is over 300 years old, the townsfolk sing improvised songs as they visit down the streets to celebrate the start of the new year.

The Molisan coast lies 90km away, centred around the economically florishing town of Termoli, which is the sole Molisan port and offers the most direct connections to the Tremiti islands. The town's coat of arms features its castle which towers over the sea and dates back to the Norman rule of the 11th century.