Destinations: Isernia

Isernia, Molise

Founded in 1970, Isernia is Italy's youngest province, though it now boasts 52 municipalities and extends 1500 square kilometers. With its pleasant location, it's not surprising that Isernia is the site of the oldest (nearly one million year-old!) human remains discovered in Europe. Known as the Man of Isernia, Homo Aeserniensis is Isernia's main attraction, drawing visitors from around the world to see his settlement and the other Paleolithic artifacts in the area.

History
Homo Aeserniensis lived nearly a million years ago, bridging the gap between Homo Erectus and Homo Sapiens and establishing his home in the province of Isernia. Rumors claim that here forms of urbanization, formal systems of cultivation, use of fire, and use of color for esthetics first appeared, developing into a new chapter in the history of man. After hundreds of thousands of years, Isernia once again finds a place in history with the Pelasgian and later the Samnite populations. Isernia was the capital of the Pentrian Samnium, and succeeded in defeating Rome—though it was eventually conquered by Silla. During Roman times, it was responsible for hosting the legions and their headquarters. With the onset of Christianity, Isernia immediately became a diocese, and its first bishop was Saint Poltino, a disciple of Saint Peter the Apostle. Though the territory fell under the jurisdiction of Campobasso until 1963, on March 3, 1970 the Province of Isernia was established, and Isernia was once again on the rise.

Sights
With 52 communes, Isernia is home to a wealth of historical sites and geographic diversity. Visitors can travel from town to town, exploring pre-historic settlements, Samnite fortresses, Roman municipalities, medieval castles, Romanesque and Baroque-style churches, and the many parks and natural reserves in the area.

Among the communes—Pesche, Carpinone, Frosoloone, and Montaquila to name a few—don't miss the province's capital city, Isernia. Currently a flourishing center filled with pasta makers, masons, embroiderers, and craftsmen of all sorts, Isernia has an interesting history of its own and possesses 3rd century ruins left from an ancient Italic temple. Once, Aesernia, the capital of the Samnites, it became a Roman colony in 263 and was then an apex of communication between Southern Italy and the more interior Apennine Regions. Long a sacred spot, the city originally derives its name from "aiser," a word with an Italic root meaning "god."

For more details or information about Isernia, go to http://www.italyworldclub.com .