From Trulli to Sassi

Thursday, September 19, 2013
Locorotondo, martina franca, alberobello, matera, Puglia, Italy
Left Lecce, headed northwest up the boot....first stop, Locorotundo, a city of concentric circled streets all whitewashed with the most beautiful flowers everywhere. The highlight was a wedding in a beautiful church. We waited outside for the bride and groom, people invited to the wedding wander in and out of the church because the ceremony is ridiculously long. And the clothes.....women wear gowns, short,short dresses, pants with sparkly tops but all save the old ladies have the brightest and highest heels on. The little boys wear teeny tiny bowties, and the men wear colored sports jackets over jeans.

Finally, the groom and bride exit, they mosey up to two pedestals filled with pink and white balloons, connected with a ribbon . Everyone throws rice from paper cones, the bride cuts the ribbon, then pops the pedestal tops and out flow dozens of tiny pink and white heart balloons into the sky. Her and the groom drink champagne and then walk around the village.  

 The view from the town is spectacular all the hills are dotted with trulli and for miles you see the stone covered tops.

We drive to Martina Franca, we see the town from the car, spread out, lots of homes with wrought iron balconies. Problem is, it is market day and traffic is terrible, we make a quick exit.


We are now on the road to Alberobello, land of the truilli, the road is set between two low stone walls for miles and miles.....on every side are clusters of trulli or a larger one alone. I have read that these homes were originally put up, then taken down when the tax collectors came, then put back again . They are so very unique. We arrive at "Beautiful Trees", the town is putting up feast lights. There are hundreds and hundreds of trulli, many turned into stores and shops. We walk around the better part of the afternoon exploring these unusual cone shaped homes.

We are now west heading to Matera, Basilicata where the Sassi cave dwellings are.....From Alberobello until we almost reach Matera ,we do not encounter any signs, just keep driving on a road passing farm, after farm, not seeing anyone, just horses, cows, the sweet smell of manure and US,.We keep our fingers crossed that the Gps.is right.  
 

We arrive and can't find the b and b Casastella, I stop in at an i point for tourists, he doesn't speak any Englsh, he knows the street but keeps showing me a left on the map when it is a right. He then asks where the car is, I point outside the window and show him. He then turns the map completely around and says, you go right.

The b&b is at the top of a hill, luckily Andrea is there as we are an hour earlier than expected. We have the entire place to ourselves, it goes four levels down. It is a beautiful,beautiful cave. Our room looks out at the ravine, the shower is another huge cave, lit with candles and a rain shower, so awesome. Interesting art, sculptures, a fireplace, a desk on a ledge off a spiral staircase, a lighted well that goes down, and all around us are unusual works of art. This place personfies unique. GC heads for the shower, we change and head out.

The town has an erie vibe to it, it is dark, and suspended above you are rocks and caves as you walk. Tonight they have some weird kind of exhibits with lights and strange music. We head to the Soul Kitchen(what a name) but Andrea suggested it. After a long wait, the chef comes over and takes our order. We have an as antipasto of local cheese and meats drizzled with honey. Then I have the most unbelievable potato ravioli filled with mozzarella and seasoned with tiny tomatoes,. GC has homemade cavatelli with mushrooms, we nearly finish the bottle of red, it's that good....We walk a bit....but have a hard time heading back as it is a long.....long....way and its all uphill.
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Anne C
2013-09-21

I never want this to end...........xoxo

Annie
2013-09-21

Italy is a magical place... every town seems to be unique and colorful. What an amazing adventure. I look forward to each day's story.

2025-02-08

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