Molise (;
Molisano:
Mulise) is a
region of
Southern Italy. Until 1963, it formed part of the region of
Abruzzi e Molise, alongside the region of
Abruzzo. The split, which did not become effective until 1970, makes Molise the newest region in Italy. The region covers (the
Aosta Valley is the only smaller region) and has a population of about 300,000.