Of Croatian origin, Acquaviva Collecroce rises in a mainly hilly area. Its territory is exploited by agriculture and pastoralism. Some songs and customs are preserved of the Slavic tradition such as the characteristic feast of the “MAJA” (the first of May) connected to the rites of calendimaggio, where a straw basket decorated with green fronds, fresh flowers and first fruits parades through the streets of the village bringing good wishes accompanied from songs and dances.
Acquaviva Collecroce (Živavoda Kruc in Croatian Molise) is one of the three municipalities Molise of Croatian origin. The presence of Slav peoples is testified from the XVI century. They arrived in Italy at the same time the Albanians, between the end of the XV century and the beginning of the XVI century, coming perhaps from the valley of the Neretva River, in the current Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. The language, the Croatian Molise is štokava-ikava, and is still spoken together with the Italian.
Testimonies of the primitive hamlet you have from the XIII century, composed of two farmhouses of "Acquaviva" and "Collecroce". In the sixteenth century the Croatian people gave renewed vitality to the village, whose center of Collecroce was abandoned. The center was known by the name of "Sant'Angelo in the palace". The government belonged to the Templar Knights of the Order of Malta, until 1785. In 1809 the territory was subject to the Contado of Salerno and then in the district of Larino. The parish church of Santa Maria Esther belonged to the Diocese of Guardialfiera, subsequently deleted and aggregated at Termoli. After having reached in 1911 more than 2 thousand inhabitants, Acquaviva began to see a slow depopulation of the village for emigration. Since 1949 is part of the province of Campobasso.
The presence of abundant water had evidently to determine both the choice of the site for the settlement that the name of the country, Acquaviva, which was subsequently added Collecroce beyond that for historical reasons, also to distinguish the town from other existing in Italy with the same name or also for the majestic Calvary with three crosses place, always, to the top of the country and then on a hill. In the entire territory of the country there are several fountains. In the west side: in the lower part of the hill, the Marmarica and Pisciariello (Pišaraj), in the central part the Fontana Vecchia (Funda Stara) and the Fontana Nuova (Funda Nova)(1898),and more upstream La Fontanella(Fundica). In the east side: The Okvavit (brandy) in the lower part, the Trocche (Kortij) (1870) in the middle part and more upstream the recent Kurtina instead of previous Kanalic.
There are 5 other fountains scattered in the area that take their name from the nickname given to landowners with which border. Some of the fountains mentioned above were used in ancient times to do the laundry and to be able to draw water for domestic use with the so-called Tine of copper. In the Go to Fontana, the Tina was brought to the arm and in return, the feed of water, was carried on the head by a dishcloth done at spiral called shoots. The water was drawn in general by girls forced to do even hours in a row to wait your turn and this service was played with a lot of enthusiasm because it allowed them to meet on the street a few nice guy.
Municipality of Acquaviva Collecroce
Province of Campobasso
Molise Region
Population: 614Â acquavivesi
Altitude centre: 425 m s.l.m.
Municipality
Piazza Nicola Neri 1 -Â Tel. +39 0875 970128
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The typical cuisine of Acquaviva Collecroce is still based on the products of the earth and pastoralism. The local cuisine is a simple cuisine that has preserved ancient flavors and all its authenticity, giving fragrant aromas that spread through the alleys of the town. In the country's gastronomic culture, exquisite salami, rich cheeses, well-seasoned first courses with homemade pasta stand out, all rather spicy and tasty, the bread still cooked in wood-burning ovens and the pork used for the production of sausages, like sausage, ventricina and brawn, still prepared according to the canons dictated by tradition. On the tables of Acquaviva Collecroce, we can find dishes such as Cavatelli with sausage or ventricina sauce (Kuca s kobascom or vindriÄ?inom) and the Meat stew with cheese and eggs (Sirajaji) or the Split bread (Panunda), a loaf of bread cut in half stuffed with peppers, small pieces of fried sausage and omelette.
Typical dish of the Acquaviva Collecroce tradition is Varak, a legume and cereal soup prepared on the occasion of the anniversary of San Donato, on August 7th. We should also mention the milk noodles (Rizandze s mblikam), homemade noodles seasoned with milk and flavored with cinnamon that are prepared for Ascension Day.
The desserts, prepared with great attention and respecting tradition, are linked to the history of the area and to religious celebrations. Also in Acquaviva Collecroce you can taste Christmas sweets such as Calcioni, sweets stuffed with chickpea paste, Caragnole, strips of pasta composed in circular shape fried and then sprinkled with honey and Mostaccioli, Pigna and Fiadone with ricotta or cheese prepared for Easter. Among the typical desserts, the place of honor goes to the KolaÄ?i, desserts stuffed with cooked must, grape jam, walnuts and ground almonds, honey, cinnamon and orange zest (stuffing called kaškavuniska). Traditionally they are prepared for February 3, the feast of San Biagio and they were also the main dessert that was prepared on special occasions, such as weddings. Also on the occasion of the feast of San Biagio it is devotion to prepare the so-called Pandice, two or four loaves of bread joined together in the center of which are engraved with a key. The Pandices together with the KolaÄ?i were blessed in church and at the end of the religious service they were distributed to foreigners who went to Acquaviva Collecroce on this day to have their throat blessed. Among the other local products we can also mention extra virgin olive oil and local wines of excellent quality.
