Priest Pasquale Panella with Geppino Bojano

Miss Matese in August 1956

Art exhibitions during the 50s. Geppino Bojano speaking.

The old chalet, headquarters of Pro Loco of San Gregorio Matese

Main square of S. Gregorio Matese during tourist boom.

As God wished the war passed. It was the time of rebirth, the time of don Pasquale Panella, Vincenzino Ferritto, Raffaele Stocchetti and Senator Don Giovannino Caso. The Park Luisa was opened and the hotels are built. There was talk of tourists and country people. The donkeys give way at the Ape three gears. In the bar of Luigino Boiano, the first television set arrived. Finally, between a fizzy drink and the TV quiz "Lascia or Raddoppia" it feels itself modern.

The true tourist boom was in 1950s, with the Local Tourist Association composed by few young people of the village who were guided by the communal secretary Theodoro Mezzullo. He was councilman of the Agency of Tourism in Caserta and also Consul of the Italian Touring Club. Evening dances were held at Villa Ginevra with Nino Taranto and Gloria Christian. There was a competition for the election of Miss Matese. The art exhibitions of paintings and the competitions for novel and poetry writing all remain memorable. The Foreign Circle was moved to the pretty wood Chalet, in that Town Park that the old people still call Padule. The village even changed its name, becoming San Gregorio "Matese". Soon Castello and Piedimonte also added Matese to their names.

The old boarding house Pensa became Hotel Mount Miletto. The inn of Gigina Pignataro became Hotel Villa Maria. The entrepreneur Angelone constructed new hotels. San Gregorio saw an elite tourism, the "Small Switzerland" it was called in the newspapers. More assiduous vacationers constructed their own villas, Villa Giulia, Villa Caterino, Villa Caniggia, Villa Rosalba and Villa Coccia. The village had expanded: on one side the ring road, from the other the Parco Correra.

But the social groups did not change. Shepherds and villagers, as 100 years before, faced the Town elections. But in the "owner and under" play, in one bar or in the other, they all are equal. Yesterday is like today. Like always.