The place we are staying at has had internet issues for the last 24 hours. I am connecting using my phone but don't have enough bandwidth to send pictures. We were in the capital city of Lecce yesterday with a fascinating guide where we learned way more about the history of the Salento and a deeper understanding of what the 'Baroque' period was about. We also whipped over to the city of Otranto where yet more unforeseen art awaited us. Bizillions of pictures but will have wait for hopefully better connection at our next location. Today was All Saints Day and a national holiday in Italy. We went to the coast looking for picture taking opportunities. And we ended up at a lovely coast town for the quintessential Italian Holiday/Sunday meal and post meal on the piazza experience. All to be revealed pictorially as soon as I get better connection!
Tomorrow changes afoot. We move on further north out of the Salento but still in Puglia where unfortunately we will spend most of our day doing laundry. Then a couple days of transit before the great reveal...
...ALBANIA!!!!!!!!
Showing posts with label Solento. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Solento. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
Italia 2017 - Now Brought To You From The Salento
And where you ask is The Salento? It is the southern most tip of the boot heel. A part of the area known as Puglia, it is yet different from the rest of that area. Wife and I didn't even know where we were going to go next until just a few days ago. But after all our time in the Emilia-Romangne, Tuscany and Umbria, we knew we wanted something completely different. And this is proving to be it.
This area has a history unlike anywhere else in Italy with the exception of Sicily. It was part of the greater Greek world, then conquered by Rome and a part of that sphere. Invasions by the Goths and Lombards followed and then the Saracens. In the 9th century, Byzantium conquered the area and held sway for 150 years reinforcing Greek tendencies. There followed control by Normans from Sicily, French control via the Kings of Naples, Hapsburg Spain, Bourbon control again from Naples, etc.
But the Greek influence here is strong. We originally planned to go to three major towns that are well known. But our B&B hosts suggested a tour of local towns that have hidden gems. It was more than we expected...way more. In fact it was like Siena, I took over a hundred and twenty pictures and it took hours tonight to just go through them. I will have put them into more than one post I think. Looking forward to sharing it with you.
This area has a history unlike anywhere else in Italy with the exception of Sicily. It was part of the greater Greek world, then conquered by Rome and a part of that sphere. Invasions by the Goths and Lombards followed and then the Saracens. In the 9th century, Byzantium conquered the area and held sway for 150 years reinforcing Greek tendencies. There followed control by Normans from Sicily, French control via the Kings of Naples, Hapsburg Spain, Bourbon control again from Naples, etc.
But the Greek influence here is strong. We originally planned to go to three major towns that are well known. But our B&B hosts suggested a tour of local towns that have hidden gems. It was more than we expected...way more. In fact it was like Siena, I took over a hundred and twenty pictures and it took hours tonight to just go through them. I will have put them into more than one post I think. Looking forward to sharing it with you.
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