The small town of Pescolanciano is located in about 30 kilometers northwest of Campobasso and about 12 kilometers northeast of Isernia. It has approximately 847 inhabitants, known as Pescolancianesi. Due to its geographical position, it is considered the “door to Upper Molise.”

The name Pescolanciano originates from the old designation Pesclum Lanzanum (Pesclum meaning rock while Lanzanum originating from Lanz, the name of the owner of the lands).

The origin of the town goes back to the 4th century B.C., when the Samnites constructed a fortress there to fight the Romans. The present town took shape during the Norman occupation, when the massive castle was built. Later on, when the transumanza (sheep herding) economy began to develop, Pescolanciano was an important resting site for the flocks of sheep tended by the shepherds.

Probably its most notable sight is the Castello D’Alessandro, which perches on top of a rocky spur and can be accessed through a drawbridge. Although perhaps built around 583, the first historical mentions are from the 13th century. The castle is located in a strategic position for control of the Castel di Sangro-Lucera sheep-track. The small church belongs to the original nucleus. In 1656, the place of worship was moved inside the castle to house the relics of St. Alexander, transferred there from the Roman catacombs.

The castle underwent several modifications, especially in 1600 when the entrance was moved to the esplanade that leads to the drawbridge, and then again after the 1805 earthquake.

In 1756, Duke Pasquale D’Alessandro started in his castle a maiolica workshop which was so successful that it threatened the Capodimonte Royal Factory. As a result, in the 19th century the Neapolitans ordered the destruction of the Pescolanciano maiolica center, whose very few, precious surviving pieces are today in the Louvre in Paris.
An important date in Pescolanciano is July 26, the Feast of Sant’Anna, when there is a parade of wheat bundles, carried with any available vehicles–tractors, carts, sleds drawn by dogs or donkeys. The feast had its origin in 1805, when the area was hit by an earthquake and after that a terrible hailstorm. Sant’Anna was believed to have protected the harvest while the farmers were distraught because of the earthquake, so the feast became a kind of thanksgiving festival for Pescolanciano and surrounding centers.
The popular, well-known dish in the town is the polenta, prepared according to many different recipes–polenta with beans, white polenta with fresh cheese, and other preparations with local white and black truffles, porcini mushrooms, or the “polenta infornata.”

What to See

• Medieval castle located in the highest part of the town is connected to the center by a bridge. Originally a massive fortress with round towers at the corners, in the 18th century it was changed into an elegant mansion Inside the interesting chapel with a fine painting and a magnificent marble altarpiece
• Church of Sant’Antonio
• Sighting Tower located in Santa Maria del Vignale.

Important Dates

• June 14 – Fest of San Basilio
• July 26 -Feast of Sant’Anna
• August 14 – Feast of Santa Maria
• September 22 – Feast of San Domenico
• November 3 – Feast pf San Carlo, the patron saint
• December 4 – Feast of Santa Barbara

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescolanciano https://www.italyheritage.com/regions/molise/province-isernia/pescolanciano.htm http://dreaminitaly.com/pescolanciano-molise/

Tradotto da Ennio Di Tullio

Provincia di Isernia, Regione Molise

Il piccolo comune di Pescolanciano si trova a circa 30 chilometri a nord-ovest di Campobasso e circa 12 chilometri a nord-est di Isernia. Ha circa 847 abitanti, detti Pescolancianesi. Per la sua posizione geografica è considerata la “porta dell’Alto Molise”.

Il nome Pescolanciano trae origine dall’antica denominazione Pesclum Lanzanum (Pesclum significa roccia mentre Lanzanum deriva da Lanz, nome del proprietario dei terreni).

L’origine della città risale al IV secolo a.C., quando i Sanniti vi costruirono una fortezza per combattere i Romani. L’attuale abitato prese forma durante l’occupazione normanna, quando venne costruito il massiccio castello. Successivamente, quando cominciò a svilupparsi l’economia della transumanza, Pescolanciano fu un importante luogo di sosta per le greggi di pecore accudite dai pastori.

Probabilmente la sua attrazione più notevole è il Castello D’Alessandro, che si trova sulla cima di uno sperone roccioso ed è accessibile tramite un ponte levatoio. Anche se costruito forse intorno al 583, le prime notizie storiche risalgono al XIII secolo. Il castello è situato in una posizione strategica per il controllo del tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera. La piccola chiesa appartiene al nucleo originario. Nel 1656 il luogo di culto fu spostato all’interno del castello per ospitare le reliquie di S. Alessandro, trasferito lì dalle catacombe romane.
Il castello subì diverse modifiche, soprattutto nel 1600 quando l’ingresso fu spostato sulla spianata che conduce al ponte levatoio, e poi ancora dopo il terremoto del 1805.

Nel 1756 il Duca Pasquale D’Alessandro avviò nel suo castello un laboratorio di maiolica che ebbe un tale successo da mettere in pericolo la Real Fabbrica di Capodimonte. Di conseguenza, nel XIX secolo i napoletani ordinarono la distruzione del centro maiolico di Pescolanciano, i cui pochissimi e preziosi pezzi sopravvissuti si trovano oggi al Louvre di Parigi.

Una data importante a Pescolanciano è il 26 luglio, festa di Sant’Anna, quando si svolge la sfilata dei fasci di grano, trasportati con tutti i veicoli disponibili: trattori, carretti, slitte trainate da cani o asini. La festa ha origine nel 1805, quando la zona fu colpita da un terremoto e successivamente da una terribile grandinata. Si credeva che Sant’Anna proteggesse il raccolto mentre i contadini erano dispersi a causa del terremoto, così la festa divenne una sorta di festa di ringraziamento per Pescolanciano e i centri circostanti.

Il piatto popolare e conosciuto in paese è la polenta, preparata secondo le più svariate ricette: polenta con fagioli, polenta bianca con formaggio fresco, e altre preparazioni con tartufo bianco e nero locale, funghi porcini, oppure la “polenta informata”.

Attrazioni del luogo:

• Castello medievale situato nella parte più alta del paese è collegato al centro da un ponte. In origine massiccia fortezza con torri circolari agli angoli, fu trasformata nel XVIII secolo in un elegante palazzo signorile. All’interno interessante la cappella con un pregevole dipinto e una magnifica pala d’altare in marmo
• Chiesa di Sant’Antonio
• Torre di avvistamento ubicata in Santa Maria del Vignale.

Date da ricordare:

• 14 giugno – Festa di San Basilio
• 26 luglio – Festa di Sant’Anna
• 14 agosto – Festa di Santa Maria
• 22 settembre – Festa di San Domenico
• 3 novembre – Festa di San Carlo, patrono
• 4 dicembre – Festa di Santa Barbara

On April 14, 2024, Casa Italiana was the site of a beautiful tribute to Italian music called “Giro d’Italia in 15 Canzoni.” Among the songs included were popular hits such as “Santa Lucia” from Campania and “Ciuri Ciuri” from Sicily, along with songs from many of the regions, from north to south. For Abruzzo, the choice was the very popular “Vola Vola Vola” and for Molise, it was “Rosabella del Molise.”
The concert was a continuation of the series begun several years ago by Father Ezio Marchetto with the “Songs of Migration.”
AMHS members played key roles in this wonderful musical event, which also included a lunch catered by Mama Lucia’s. Maria Marigliano was the organizer and director, Maria Fresco was the narrator, Sergio Fresco played the accordion and sang, Eileen Parise played the tambourine and flute, and Carmela Ventresca was among the singers. And people in the audience got on the dance floor too, including Ennio DiTullio, who was seen dancing to “Vola Vola Vola.”
To conclude the program, the audience enthusiastically joined in singing “L’Italiano,” the big hit by Toto Cotugno, who turned the song into an international sensation in 1983 and who passed away last year. It should be noted that Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni hailed Cotugno as “un vero Italiano,” and he was commemorated by heads of state of the United States, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and China.

May 2024

On April 9, 2024, AMHS current Board Director and former President, Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, was honored at a dinner hosted by the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), the main trade association representing the domestic textile industry. Maria, who is retiring from the Department of Commerce in December, 2024, has worked in the Office of Textiles and Apparel since 1992 and is its current Director. Maria was honored for her 32 years of service representing the domestic and trade policy interests of the textile industry, which is vital to the economic and national security of the United States. Standing at the podium, with Maria, is Kim Glas, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles from 2009 to 2014 and was Maria’s supervisor. Kim Glas is currently the President of the NCTO.

April 2024