Fitionesti

Fitioneşti (fee-tee-oh-NESHT) a village and commune in the center-north hill area of the Vrancea county in Romania (around 7,000 inhabitants). The Fitioneşti commune includes five villages: Fitioneşti, Ghimiceşti, Ciolăneşti, Şoldăneşti, and Mănăstioara. Fitioneşti is said to have taken its name from the Fetion family, an old family of local boyars (Feudal Nobles in the Romanian history).

Relief and natural elements. The Zăbrăuţi River (zuh-bruh-OOTS) crosses the village that lies between two hills, surrounded by wooden areas. Fitioneşti has a varied relief: Bouroş(u) Hill to the East, Valea Rea Valley (Vălirá / Văliráua) to the West, followed by Costin Hill; also, Pisc Hill (Pi Chisc) to the North-West, and Ursoaia. Twenty kilometres North of Fitioneşti, after Glodişteanu Woods, there is Moşinoaiele monastery (Moşânoaia). These surroundings are proper for (agro)tourism.

Neighborhood. The closest town is Panciu, ten kilometres to the South-East, which is virtually the only access way to "civilisation", historically also referred to as „la Vale“ ("to the fields"). Another neighboring commune is Moviliţa, to the North-East. To the West, beyond Valea Rea and Costin hill, there is Muncelu village (Străoane commune).

Economic activities. The inhabitants are mostly farmers. They mainly cultivate maize, beans, and potatos, also onion, cabbage, radishes, tomatos, and cucumbers. There are also many vineyards and orchards in Fitioneşti. Plums, apples, pears, and sour-cherries are most popular. Also they raise poultry (chicken, geese, ducks, sometimes turkeys), sheep, and cows. They keep horses (they still use them for farming work like ploughing), dogs, and cats.

Some other economic activities: they produce wine and „rachiu“ (a strong alcoholic drink), cheese, and make some of their clothes at home by hand. Also, some popular home manufacture includes soap, carpets, and brooms, usually for family use, not for selling.

Some social facts:
Litteracy: some old people are illiterate
Ethnicity: virtually no gipsy or other non-Romanian ethnics
Religion: mostly Christian Orthodox, some Adventists and a few other neo-protestants
Institutions: Căminul Cultural, one communal library, four elementary schools (they attend Ioan Slavici high-school in Panciu)