Molise, which after Valle D'Aosta, is the second smallest region in Italy, only became a separate region in 1963. It is a hilly area, that sits on the Adriatic coast between Abruzzo (with which it was previously joined) on the north, and Puglia on the south. On the west it is bordered by Lazio Roma and Campania. Not many English-speaking travelers make it to Molise, which is a pity. The modern day visitor to Molise, an easy journey from Rome or Naples, will find a verdant and well-forested territory in which numerous small, medieval hamlets, and numerous castles, many still in exceedingly good condition, are nestled. The few large towns and cities are as yet unspoiled by mass tourism; the people are open and friendly; the cuisine still strongly regional. There are no heavy industries to speak of, so Molise's economy is still principally agricultural in the hinterlands and fishing on the coast.