The Basilica Santuario dei Santi Cosma e Damiano is the main church of Alberobello. Even though the building of the basilica was begun in 1700, the structure was not entirely finished until 1966. In 1785, the relics of the two saints, who were twin brothers, were moved here from Rome. Brought to Alberobello at that…
Author: rchabala
I am 56 years old. I live in New York City and for the last 11 years, have been traveling to Italy at least twice every year. I love everything Italian. From the art and museums to the people, to the incredible food, my heart skips a beat when I think of Italy, and the many places and things that I've been lucky enough to experience. Now, I want to share my excitement and passion with the world. I will take you to both major Italian cities, and small mountain villages. I will talk about things to do in these places, and places to explore which are off of the beaten path. I will also talk about the restaurants that I've dined in, and the places that I lay my head down in, while staying in each of these locations.
Alberobello – Italy’s City of Trulli – Day 3 – Part 2
On Via Generale Diaz, you will find the Biblioteca Parrocchiale “Domenico Morea,” named after the priest and scholar who was born in Alberobello, and who went on to turn the nearby city of Conversano into the “Athens of Italy.” A plaque on a facade marks the house where Don Peppino Contento lived, while in Alberobello….
Alberobello – Italy’s City of Trulli – Day 3 – Part 1
We began our third day in Alberobello exploring the area we were staying in: Rione Aia Piccola. Again, this is a slightly less commercialized zone of trulli. It borders on the more modern section of the city, and thus, it is not as attractive to the average tourist, as Rione Monti is. I found it…
Alberobello – Italy’s City of Trulli – Day 2 – Part 2
A plaque marks the house where the Italian engineer, Nicola Armando Agrusti, lived for eighty-three years. Another plaque marks the house where Father Marco Antonio Lippolis lived, who was a much loved priest of the city, and was responsible for the building of the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio di Padova, in Alberobello. Our next stop was…
Alberobello – Italy’s City of Trulli – Day 2 – Part 1
Our first stop, on our second day in Alberobello, was located only a short walk from the apartment: The Museo Del Territorio. This structure, made up of a palazzo with a few trulli incorporated into it, had been the home of Giacomo Pezzola, a doctor from the city. At the time, it was considered one…
Alberobello – Italy’s City of Trulli – Day 1 – Part 3
Walking through these streets that are lined with trulli, it is still possible to imagine what the area was like, before being invaded by tourists. Every now and then, one catches a glimpse of something that will take the person looking at it back in time! For example, I saw a well partially hidden, in…
Alberobello – Italy’s City of Trulli – Day 1 – Part 2
Near the belvedere, you will find Piazza del Popolo. This is the main square of the city. In it is the Monumento ai Caduti, which pays tribute to those who lost their lives in World War I. Directly in front of the monument is the Palazzo Comunale. Today, this palazzo houses the municipal police, as…
Alberobello – Italy’s City of Trulli – Day 1 – Part 1
Our next destination was the fairy-tale city of Alberobello! Now, Alberobello is only 9.5 miles away from Martina Franca, and so it is just a fifteen-minute drive. Many people fit Alberobello into their vacation itineraries as a day trip, a place that they stop in for a few hours, tour a few of the more…
Martina Franca – A City of Art and Culture in Puglia, Italy – Day 3 – Part 2
Dating from 1668, on the site that was once occupied by a medieval castle, Palazzo Ducale was home to those who ruled the area, and then later, in more modern times, became the city’s Town Hall, and the main Civic Museum. Visiting the palazzo is a must, for anyone spending time in Martina Franca. While…
Martina Franca – A City of Art and Culture in Puglia, Italy – Day 3 – Part 1
The semi-circular Piazza Maria Immacolata, or Piazza dei Portici, as it is also known, is one of the city’s most popular spots. This lovely square was built in 1854, by the architect Davide Conversano. Each of the arches of its arcade was designed to hold the stall of a vendor, on market day. Now, tables…
Martina Franca – A City of Art and Culture in Puglia, Italy – Day 2 – Part 2
The Convent of the Suore Missionarie della Consolata is on Piazza Mario Pagano, next to an abandoned church. The Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi dates from 1728, and is found at the end of the piazza. Inside of the niche, over the main door, there is a statue of the Immaculate Conception. The two statues,…
Martina Franca – A City of Art and Culture in Puglia, Italy – Day 2 – Part 1
If you walk along the perimeter of the town, following the line of the old city walls, you will see that a few of the defensive towers built into those walls are still standing. An example of this is the Torre delle Seti, or the Tower of Silk, which dates from the fourteenth century. The…