Alberobello
Today was Italy’s Liberation Day, commenorating the defeat of the Nazis 60 years ago. No trucks were allowed to drive on the highways today, the same as on Sundays. It was also one of our tour members’ birthday––Bill. Paola taught us how to sing Happy Birthday in Italian: “”Tante agoray actay”––that’s, phonetically, “Happy Birthday to You.” We drove south through a region of Italy called the Murge dei Trulli, where there were citrus groves and orchards, olive groves, and vineyards and strange circular buildings called trulli. This photo shows a trulli.
Alberobello
Alberobello
We visited the town of Alberobello where most of the buildings are trulli. It is not known when the trulli were built or anything about their origin, but they are only seen in this part of Italy and no where else in the world. They are built of rocks and originally without any mortar or cement. Today, most have stucco siding. Alberobello is a UNESCO site, which means that nothing can be changed here. There are two sides of the town and I first walked up to one side of it past this eating place.
Alberobello
Alberobello
Most of the trulli in Alberobello are whitewashed but some remain in the original stone color.
Alberobello
Alberobello
A close–up of a stone wall. You can see in the photo how the rocks are laid one on top of another.
Alberobello
Alberobello
A lane in Alberobello. This side is mainly a residential area and people actually live in the trulli. The man in the photo has his umbrella open––we had off and on rain here.
Alberobello
Alberobello
You park your car as close to your front door as you can.
Alberobello
Alberobello
Another lane in Alberobello.
Alberobello
Alberobello
Another parking space.
Alberobello
Alberobello
These people were waiting to go to a restaurant located here.
Alberobello
Alberobello
View of the other side of the town. The tourist area where there are souvenir shops is located on this side of the town.
Alberobello
Alberobello
Tourists walking up the street on the tourist side.
Alberobello
Alberobello
Some of the roofs of the trulli have pagan, religious, or magical symbols. Note this roof on top of a souvenir shop.
Alberobello
Alberobello
More roof symbols.
Alberobello
Alberobello
Shopping street. Alberobello was truly a fascinating town to visit.
Alberobello
Alberobello
If you want to stay in Alberobello for awhile, you may want to try the Fascino Antico Bed & Breakfast. I saw on a website that you can rent a trulli. The one listed for rental didn’t have many amenities, such as hot water, but its interior looked quite nice.
Alberobello
Trulli
Trulli seen in the countryside––photo taken from the bus.
Trulli
Lecce
From Alberobello, we traveled farther south to the city of Lecce and were shown around the city by a local guide. Lecce was originally a Greek settlement but later became part of the Roman Empire. This photo shows a first–century Roman amphitheater. The column is called the Colonna di Sant’Oronzo.
Lecce
Colonna di Sant’Oronzo
Close–up of the statue of St. Oronzo. He was appointed the Bishop of Lecce in A.D. 57 by St. Paul. He was martyred by Nero, the Roman Emperor. The statue dates back to 1739.
Colonna di Sant’Oronzo
Roman Amphitheater
Another view of the Roman Amphitheater.
Roman Amphitheater
Piazza Sant’ Oronzo
View of the square where the Roman Amphitheater is located.
Piazza Sant’ Oronzo
McDonald’s
There is a McDonald’s located on this square. We saw many McDonald’s restaurants throughout Italy. They usually are much more crowded than this one is. I can think of one reason why they are so popular in Italy. There are few restaurants in Italy that do not serve Italian food. When an Italian wants a change of diet, where else to go but to a McDonald’s. They are popular with tourists as well––we had some defections of our tour group to McDonald’s in various cities (Please, no more pasta!) The McDonald’s also serve an other great function––they have free toilets!
McDonald’s
Lecce
A street scene in Lecce.
Lecce
Lecce
A caught this photo of a gathering of Italians.
Lecce
Lecce
Close–up of the group.
Lecce
Lecce
Another street scene.
Lecce
Church of Santa Croce
We followed our local guide through the streets of Lecce to the Church of Santa Croce. Much of the architecture in Lecce is of a richly decorative Baroque style. The Lecce Baroque style dates back to the 1600s. Lecce was called the Florence of the South because its buildings were so richly decorated. Building of the Church of Santa Croce began in 1549.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
Close–up of the outside of the church.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
The rose window from the outside.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
Another close–up of the outside of the church.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
Another close–up.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
Inside the church.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
Inside the church.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
Close–up of the top of a column.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
The altar.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
Close–up of the altar.
Church of Santa Croce
Church of Santa Croce
Another view of the inside of the church.
Church of Santa Croce
Lecce
Sign near the church. Is there a Chinatown in Lecce?
Lecce
Palazzo Vescovile and Duomo
The Duomo (Cathedral) was built in the 17th century (the building on the left of the photo). The Palazzo Vescovile was the bishop’s palace was rebuilt in 1632. That is our group under the umbrellas. It has started to rain again.
Palazzo Vescovile and Duomo
Lecce
A decorative building we saw on our walk to our next sight.
Lecce
Lecce
Street scene on our way.
Lecce
Palazzo Vescovile and Duomo
The Duomo (Cathedral) was built in the 17th century (the building on the left of the photo). The Palazzo Vescovile was the bishop’s palace was rebuilt in 1632. That is our group under the umbrellas. It has started to rain again.
Palazzo Vescovile and Duomo
Piazza Duomo
View of the Palazzo Vescovile in the middle, the Duomo on the left, and a seminary dating back to 1709 on the right.
Piazza Duomo
Palazzo Vescovile
Close–up of the Palazzo Vescovile.
Palazzo Vescovile
Piazza Duomo
The back side of the piazza.
Piazza Duomo
Duomo Doors
Brass doors of the Duomo––on the side of the Duomo facing the seminary.
Duomo Doors
Duomo
Close–up of the front of the Duomo.
Duomo
Duomo
Inside the Duomo.
Duomo
Duomo
Inside the Duomo.
Duomo
Duomo
Inside the Duomo.
Duomo
Duomo
Inside the Duomo.
Duomo
Lecce
Our tour has ended. Our group then walked back to our Trafalgar bus and were driven to our hotel in Lecce––The Hotel President, a very nice four–star hotel. The television was on when I entered my room––on it it said “Welcome Drouet.” A Janet Jackson song was also being played on it. I flipped through the TV channels and found Murder She Wrote in Italian but no CNN or BBC, only Fox News.
