Salcito, a Molise village on the border with Abruzzo, stands in a hilly area characterized by the striking “morge,” rocky outcrops of great geological interest. Downstream flows the Trigno River, while among the streets of the village, especially in summer, Roman is often heard. The reason is a strong migration of Salcitans to Rome, many of whom have become taxi drivers, who return each year for the traditional blessing of cabs in honor of St. Basil, the patron saint of the village.
The origins of the name “Salcito” are uncertain: it may derive from the Lombard “Salectu,” referring to a one-room building for collecting land rents, perhaps later transformed into the church of St. Basil the Great. Another hypothesis links the name to the willows once present in the area. Over the centuries, the village has had several feudal lords, including the d’Evoli, Di Capua and de Regina families, the latter linked to the Aragonese monarchy in the 15th century.
Of great importance for the development of the village was its proximity to the Celano-Foggia sheep-track, an ancient transhumance route. In the historic village are the church of St. Basil the Great and the marquis palace, once a medieval castle. The church houses archaeological finds, including a Roman capital with plant motifs. Also of interest is the “pandetta,” a stone engraved with rules for baking bread in the baronial oven, a witness to the ancient obligation to tithe, which peasants circumvented by inventing the typically Molisian method of baking “under the cup.”
A few steps away, the church of San Rocco, known as “dei finestroni,” was built by the Salcitans themselves in the early 1800s but remained unfinished until the early 2000s. Near the main square is the Parco della Rimembranza with a war memorial and a statue of the Unknown Soldier. The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie overlooks it, while an ancient road cross stands not far away. Along the state highway, the peculiarly shaped church of San Lorenzo offers a panoramic view.
Outside the town, the imposing morges, such as the Morgia dei Briganti, Pietra Martino and Pietra Lumanna, tell millennia of geological history.
Finally, a local gastronomic excellence is soppressata, a typical cured meat handcrafted from pork, renowned for its intense flavor.