In April 2017 the first interregional study visit of the LAND – SEA project took place in the Regione Molise, Italy. Molise is situated in south-central Italy and lies between the Apennine ridge and the Adriatic Sea. Nature, history, art, age-old traditions and good food are the treasures of this still largely-undiscovered region. The region boasts countless castles, such as that of Pescolanciano, as well as a number of abbeys and sanctuaries.
During this visit the Bulgarian representatives encountered the Director of the Regional History Museum in Campobasso, married to a Bulgarian and one of the main representatives of the stakeholders group in the Molise Region.
A discussion flared about an extremely interesting story about the Bulgarian Khan Alcek, the youngest son of the founder of the Bulgarian State back in 681, the great and wise Khan Kubrat.
The legend tells us, that when the sons of Khan Kubrat leave in different directions at the end of the 7th century looking for a bright future and fertile grounds for themselves and their children, the youngest son – Alcek, takes his people to Italy and settles down there, right in the region where Campobasso lies nowadays. His remains are still there.
Occasionally, there are many cities in Italy wearing somehow the name Bulgaria, such as Celle di Bulgaria, a mountain called Bulgaria, etc.
Bulgarians in Italy are also present in some of the country’s famous memorials.
A special attention comes to Larino Cathedral, founded in 1318 in the Campobasso Area, Regione Molise.
That is why Bulgarians living here have taken over the initiative of doing a memorial of the young Khan Alcek.
No matter where, no matter Italians, Bulgarians or German and Spanish, humans construct their lives and shape their world into homes in terms of shared memories and experiences. This particular vivid historical memory from the Regione Molise, which remained through the centuries bridged us culturally and age-related.
We think now, after this touching encounter:
- How important is it to sustainably share these memories and the remains of our predecessors – in museums, monuments, churches…
- How are we going to protect this human knowledge and tell such stories further to the generations?
- Is it possible to gain/do experiential learning by sharing and structuring the right instruments for sustainably protect our culture and nature? Can we do it automatically OR first we have to recognize the value of the knowledge?
We are sure, that through the LAND – SEA project we will share existing knowledge and create bridges both culturally and motivationally toward a solution, starting right now.
Join us! Help us and be engaged by actively observing, listening and participating.
Cooperate for mutual learning how to conjugate the needs to preserve and to develop our territories.
