Italy 2015 - Alberobello and Martina Franca

Italy 2015 - Alberobello and Martina Franca


The plan for this day was to visit Alberobello. This town is known for its concentration of trulli homes, a World Heritage Site.

There were a lot of tourists here but once we got off the main drag it was very quiet.

All the houses were so cute!!

This one was for sale. I seriously contemplated packing my bags and moving to Italy. Haha

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We stopped in a cheese shop and bought a variety of cheese to eat with the freshly baked bread we had brought along with us for lunch. It was such a simple lunch but it was so fresh and delicious. We enjoyed our lunch on a bench in a piazza overlooking the trulli.

After lunch we walked around some more and found a trullo home that was open to visitors. It was so cute and quaint.

After Alberobello we drove to Martina Franca a hilltop city that I wanted to see as I had heard it was very beautiful. Dad and Maria stayed with the car as they were nervous about where they parked while Angelica and I walked around.

It was a Saturday afternoon and there was nobody around! The city was deserted.

Back in Bitonto we had dinner at the home of one of Maria's sisters. She made homemade panzerotti and they were so good!!!! I have tried to recreate them here at home and they just are not the same.

Italy 2015 - Good Friday in Italy, Battlefield of Cannae, Trani

Italy 2015 - Good Friday in Italy, Battlefield of Cannae and visiting the town of Trani


We were spending the morning of Good Friday visiting the ancient site of Cannae where a battle was fought between Rome and Hannibal of Carthage in 216 BC. A visit to this ancient battlefield was a must for my dad who loves Roman military history.


When we were leaving Bitonto this morning there was a procession occurring for Good Friday. I later found out that this procession carried on all day. Wow!

Good Friday in Bitonto

Good Friday in Bitonto

The archeological site of Cannae and the battlefield are located just outside or the city of Barletta.

You have to drive past a bunch of farms and olive groves down a country road before you reach the small museum and archeological site.

Museum at Cannae

Museum at Cannae

Museum at Cannae

Archeological site of Cannae

Archeological site of Cannae

Archeological site of Cannae

Archeological site of Cannae

Archeological site of Cannae

Archeological site of Cannae

There is a column marking the battle and overlooking the fields where the battle occurred. 

Dad looking out over the fields where the Battle of Cannae occurred. 

Battlefield of Cannae

After we were finished visiting the archeological site we drove to the seaside town of Trani. This was a picturesque town featuring a castle and a lovely harbour front.

Castle of Trani

Castle of Trani

I opted to pay admission to see the inside of the castle. Dad and Maria did not want to and so waited outside. There were no furnishings in the castle but it was neat to walk around and see the structure.

Castle of Trani

Castle of Trani

Castle of Trani - Adam and Eve

We next wandered past the scenically placed church and over to the harbour.

Castle of Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

I wandered ahead of Dad and Maria to take photos and some fishermen started talking to me. I had no idea what they were saying but I eventually figured out through their hand gestures that they wanted me to take their picture. Maria saw them talking to me and thought that I was being harassed and came to defend me but I told her that it was fine. Here are my fishermen friends.

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

We found a beautiful seaside park and wandered through enjoying the midday sun that finally decided to show itself.

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

Trani

Maria eventually hurried me along as we had to get back to Bitonto. It was time for the "hostage handover" as I called it. Maria and Dad were officially picking up Angelica, Maria's daughter, from her father in order to take her to her grandparents house for Easter and then back to Canada with us. This handover was taking place in a park which made it seem even more like a hostage handover. lol I was left behind at the bed and breakfast for two reasons 1)they were not sure how everything was going to go down and they were afraid it was going to be ugly and did not want me exposed 2) They needed room for Angelica's luggage.


I was fine with being left behind. I got to enjoy the view from our room and take a cat nap.

Bitonto

Bitonto

Once they had Angelica they came back and got me and we went down to Santo Spirito for the evening. Maria's brother was going to be carrying the Virgin Mary display during the Good Friday procession in Santo Spirito so we all had to turn out for that.

Puppy at my step-grandparents olive farm

Good Friday in Santo Spirito

Good Friday in Santo Spirito

Good Friday in Santo Spirito 

That night when we got back to the hotel there was a large crowd outside and it turned out the procession from that morning was almost over and would be passing through the square outside our room on its way to the cathedral.

Good Friday in Bitonto