I T A L I A   2 0 0 6

BASILICATA

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Monday, 17 April:  We drove across the Italian countryside from Puglia to reach the small village of Maratea, located on the Mediterranean Ocean in the Basilicata region.  Our hotel was set high above the village on a tiny road.  It took Ed’s language skills and a little bit of luck for us to locate it.  Once found, we fell in love with the place as the views were spectacular.  In the evening we walked down a series of narrow stairways to the heart of the town.  It was very old and very beautiful.

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04.17.2006.Maratea.Our Hotel.jpg (159776 bytes)

A view of the town looking up.  Our hotel,
Capo Casale (excellent!)  is in the top center 
of the photograph where you see a
green awning; that's the breakfast terrace
04.17.2006.Maratea.Ed and the View.jpg (163425 bytes) A view of Maratea from our hotel as
Ed sits on the patio
04.17.2006.Maratea.Lindy on Steps.jpg (147355 bytes) Lindy walking down a tiny corridor 
leading into Maratea
04.17.2006.Maratea.Street.jpg (180493 bytes) A view in the town
04.17.2006.Maratea.View.jpg (158522 bytes) Another beautiful spot

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Tuesday, 18 April:  We decided to explore the Roman ruins of Grumentum, located a few hours away.  En route, we drove the coast road north for some 20 miles (the entire Mediterranean coast of Basilicata).  The views were gorgeous albeit the road was quite small and winding.  Grumentum is only partially excavated in order to preserve the site as archeologists continue to research the area.  That being said, however, there was plenty to see of this ancient town.  We spent the day exploring the site and also enjoyed learning about the daily life of the peoples through a great museum in the Visitor’s Center. 

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04.17.2006.Maratea.Our Breakfast Terrace.jpg (173845 bytes)

Beginning our day on the breakfast
terrace of the hotel
04.18.2006.Grumentum.Tempio A.jpg (96345 bytes) Tempio A (Temple A)
at Grumentum
04.18.2006.Grumentum.Roman Road.jpg (118045 bytes) A main road in Grumentum
04.18.2006.Grumentum.Tempio C.jpg (107770 bytes) Tempio C (Temple C)
at Grumentum
04.18.2006.Grumentum.Typical Attire.jpg (88462 bytes) Typical Roman attire of this era
04.18.2006.Grumentum.Column.jpg (73221 bytes) Remains of the top of a column
04.18.2006.Grumentum.Mosiac Floor.jpg (140385 bytes) Remains of a mosiac floor

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Wednesday, 19 April:  It was an overcast day but we nevertheless decided to take a short drive.  First we drove to a mountain top over the city where a huge statute of Christ is erected.  We were able to glimpse this work of art but then the clouds came in along with the rain.  We then drove to the port of Maratea and spent some time wandering around and enjoying the sea.  It was a nice way to spend our final time in this lovely part of Italy before our drive to the outskirts of Rome the following day. 

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04.19.2006.Maratea.From High Above.jpg (111184 bytes)

A view of Maratea from high
above the town
04.19.2006.Maratea Town.jpg (121406 bytes) A closer look
04.19.2006.Maratea.Port.jpg (138893 bytes) The port of Maratea
04.19.2006.Maratea.Street View.jpg (159743 bytes) A great street scene

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Thursday, 20 April:  Today we drove from Maratea to the town of Torrempieta on the outskirts of Roma.  Here we stayed at the Motel Corsi (only about 15 minutes from the airport) in anticipation of meeting The Gang.