So needless to say the holidays were a bit somber for me. I decided to take a brief road trip. I traveled to two other regions of Italy. Basilicata and Puglia specifically to visit Matera and Alberobello. Both of these cities are UNESCO World Heritage sites so were on my "to visit" list. Italy and China are tied with 55 sites each. These sites did not disappoint. I was also able to see a live precepe in Matera and both cities were still celebrating Christmas so all decorated with lights.
Matera is about a 4 hour drive from me. I stopped in Potenza as a rest stop and a bite to eat and to see this city. While there, the weather turned and started to sleet and snow. But I was higher up in the mountains so I had to accept it, although I had visions of being back in snowy Minnesota.
I visited and stayed in "the Sassi" which is the famous part of Matera. This city is famous for its cave dwellings that are built into the rock/hillsides. Some historians say it was inhabited around 7000 B.C. and could have been the first inhabitants of Italy. You can still see the uninhabited Palaeolithic caves across the "Gravina di Matera River" (which is more like a stream today - but you can see it in the pictures).
While there I was able to see the live precepe. And as I have become accustomed, each live precepe really is different and unique. There were 8 stations or presentations. Each one was set in a different location within the Sassi. They were theatrical representations of the timeline to the birth of Jesus. Each one was different and unique - some included dancing, but all were theatrically lite and were mini plays. Just amazing!!! Unfortunately pictures were not easy to take and I wanted to be present in the moment. You will just have to travel there yourself to see it. I was able to take pictures of a precepe made from sand.
After a few days in Matera I moved on to Alberobello, again, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Alberobello is famous for the Trulli which are whitewashed stone huts with pointed (conical) roofs. This city is much younger than Matera and dates back to the 1600's.
On my way home I took a different route and traveled south along the southern coast (the bottom of the foot of the boot. My first stop was at Marina di Ginosa, a city on the Ionian sea. Every New Year's Eve I have a walk on the beach. This year would not be any different.
After my beach time I traveled to Tursi which includes the ancient burgh (village) of Rabatana which is almost completely abandoned. I wanted to see some old frescos in a church that were famous. Unfortunately the church was closed. But touring the abandoned city was a treat. There is also an abandoned Monastery, "Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi of the Order of Observant Friars". It dates to the 1400's but there is some history that says it was built in 1337. Either way it is old! It was a seminary of Liberal Arts. This is in total disrepair BUT inside were remnants of some old frescos. What a find but also very sad that this bit of history is not being taken care of. Finding it took some time and then it was necessary to hike into the woods a bit. But well worth the adventure.
It was then time to continue on my journey home in enough time to spend New Years Eve with family and bring in the new year!
I will continue to blog this year but most likely only for my travel adventures or any new FIRSTS I might still encounter. The exam for my Italian Drivers License is on the horizon. That will be another FIRST and hopefully only time I will experience that! Till then.......
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In Memory of Oscar
6/25/2004 - 12/24/2019
