Once known as the “The Shame of Italy,” Matera is now regarded very proudly by its inhabitants. It’s hard to imagine that in the first half of the 20th century, the cave houses of the Sassi were crammed full of people and animals, living together in malaria-ridden squalor. Carlo Levi wrote about this area and [...]
Archive for the ‘Matera’ Category
Sasso Caveoso
Posted in Italy, Matera on May 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Morning in Matera
Posted in Italy, Matera on May 10, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Sunday, June 13, 2011 We were up early again, wanting to make the most of our remaining hours in Matera under the morning sun. The breakfast offered by l’hotel in pietra was a mind-boggling spread. Several tables lined the lobby, each with a sumptuous array of unexpected choices. Aside from the usual pastries and cornetti, [...]
Pasquale Guides Us Through Matera
Posted in Italy, Matera on May 8, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
At 4:00, we were back at the hotel waiting for our guide. Pasquale Ortenzio arrived promptly on the hour. So far for this trip, he was Pasquale number three. Undaunted by the heat of late afternoon, Pasquale walked fast, but paused several times to point out important spots. He knew the history of this entire [...]
Ristorante Le Botteghe
Posted in Italy, Matera on May 6, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Armed with directions provided by our helpful hotel clerk, we veered downwards into the bottom of Sasso Barisano in search of Ristorante Le Botteghe. As we plodded along, keeping our eyes out for the restaurant, we fell in step with a boy about twelve coming home from school. I asked him in Italian if he happened [...]
Matera’s Sassi
Posted in Italy, Matera on May 4, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
If you have never been to Matera, I urge you to go. It is nothing like you have ever seen, or can imagine. The movies “Passion of the Christ” and “The Nativity Story” were both filmed here. That may give you an inkling of the ancient feel this unique town evokes. I am not religious, [...]
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Melinda Trips To Turkey: 2011
Melinda takes you with her on her first guided tour ever, letting Europe Through The Back Door do the driving. Join her and a group of Rick-Niks as they jounce from Istanbul to Bodrum, via village Turkey.
Melinda Trips To Turkey 2011: A Viaggio To The Villages.Melinda Trips 2009: Ireland and Italia
Melinda heads to Ireland for the first time. Join her as she drinks Guinness at its source and experiences driving on the "wrong" side of the road...but not in that order!
She also continues her explorations of the inexhaustible treasures that Italy offers. She plunges below the surface of modern-day Rome and ponders the tragic history of World War II amidst the city's more obscure memorials. Then she's off to Umbria, the Cinque Terre, Venezia, and Lombardia. Come along! Melinda Trips 2009: Ireland and Italia.Melinda Trips 2007: Sicily and the Peloponnese
Melinda takes you to Sicily and climbs a volcano. Wander through narrow, cobbled streets, seaside towns and ancient ruins on the Italian island of Sicily and the Greek Peloponnesian Peninsula at Melinda Trips 2007: Sicily and Peloponnese.Melinda Trips 2006: Italy
Melinda takes you to Medieval hilltowns and guides you through the canals of Venice, wearing out her parents, her husband, herself and her shoes in the process. Beautiful photos of Italy and interesting travelogue at Melinda Trips 2006: Italy.-
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All posts and images on this blog are by Melinda Brovelli and copyrighted under a Creative Commons Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works License. Attribution should be to Melinda Brovelli with a link to Melinda Trips 2010: Amalfi Coast and Puglia.
