Acquaviva Collecroce, Province of Campobasso, Molise
Inhabited since very ancient times, in the 12th century was a center of the Gerosolomital Order (Knights of Malta), later on passed to the Cantelmo family, then in the 17th century a Slavic community moved here.
Info
- Altitude: 413 m a.s.l
- Territory: hilly
- Population: about 800 inhabitants
- Zip/postal code: 86030
- Dialing Area Code: +39 0875
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Provinces of Molise
Italian Regions
Abruzzo | Basilicata | Calabria | Campania | Emilia‑Romagna | Friuli‑Venezia Giulia | Latium | Liguria | Lombardy | Marche | Molise | Piedmont | Puglia | Sardinia | Sicily | Tuscany | Trentino‑Alto Adige | Umbria | Veneto
Traditions
The village has preserved beautiful traditions of its Slavic heritage: on the 1st of May there is the Festa del Maja, when a puppet is carried along the alleys as a good omen for the harvest, and at Christmas time the Slavic custom of the Smarceka is repeated, when a torch is lit on a a huge tree trunk near the door of the parish church.
What to see
- A medieval stone, of unknown origin, with the famous "magical square" containing the 5-letter words "Rotas Opera Tenet Arepo Sator", which can be read right to left, left to right, top to bottom and bottom to top.
- The beautiful Santa Giusta, a little outside the place, is an ancient church that was the refuge of Abruzzese shepherds.