note: Italian version under the post: IL GIORNO PRIMA DEL MATRIMONIO
OK FOLKS! We are getting close... In only a week Antonia and Marco will be heading off to Italy to start preparing in real time for the event. So far the chef of the venue has denied any access to the organization of the menu arguing that: " I don't know what I am gonna eat tomorrow, you wanna now 20 days in advance? We need to see what is fresh on the market and try it out ourself first! capish???" ... say no more.
Nonetheless, we can start making plans for what we are going to do - besides eating - starting with the day before the wedding, December 28th. Notes on the wedding day are coming in the next post, followed by what to do together on the 30th and the 31st (including New Year's Eve) for those who decide to stay with us a little longer, yes!!
All these things by the way, will be printed and left in your hotel room for you, so don't bother taking any notes. On your arrival, you'll find a map with lists of addresses, contacts and dates on a printed note on your hotel room desk, promise! Just in case you need to reach us in advance, yes, take our cell numbers along:
(from the US the prefix is: 011-39)
Antonia Italian cell: I am trying to remember!!! stay tuned!
Antonia's home: 080-574-5502
Marco's cell: 335-67-87-288
Marco's home: 080-556-9067
Don't forget to send us via email your air and train ticket information (arrival time, airport) along with your hotel information, please!
-------------------
DECEMBER 28th
We are thinking of meeting all together - 5 continents represented indeed!!! - for a drink and tapas, somewhere in the old district of Bari. Probably the best thing to do is to meet you all in the hall of the Hotel Palace, since as of today, the 99% of you is staying at this hotel. Tentative time is 6pm. For those of you not staying at the Palace, or for the many of you arriving around and past this time, please send us a note offline and we will try to coordinate.
We will probably take a little tour of the old town district (everything is in less than a mile), show you how to get to the Basilica, and probably (still to be confirmed) go to a restaurant bar called "La Uascezz"... where countless hours in the past have been devoted to the celebration of dreams, memories, food and wine (especially wine)...
Sunday, December 12, 2010
La Pizzica: a folk dance from Puglia
(picture from wikipedia) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hcgGJQCkFE&feature=relatedTarantella Pizzica - Music and Dance Spun From Myth and Psychic EnergyBy Dominic Ambrose
Most people know the Tarantella as the iconic popular music form of rural Southern Italy, but it is far more than that. It is the manifestation of a tradition that is rich in mythology and social significance, some of which have never been fully explored. It is said that the tarantella originated as a cure for people affected by the bite of the tarantula. Now this historical form, the taranta pizzica (the bite dance) is the subject of Paolo Pisanelli's documentary, Il Sibilo Lungo della Taranta (the long hiss of the spider). Pisanelli goes to the heart of tarantella culture, to Puglia, and looks at the phenomenon in the area of the Salento, the extreme southernmost part of the heel of the Italian boot.
The bite of the local tarantula is not merely a physical event, but a psychic eruption, a mystery wrapped in legend, a secret of the soul. It is not so important if these spiders really did bite women in the past (and then mysteriously stopped), what is far more significant is what role these bites and their ritual cleansings had in the society of Southern Italy. The film begins by investigating the history of tarantism, using film from a 1960s documentary. It explores the cultural legacy that tarantism has left for today's inhabitants. In the old film we see women writhing and gyrating wildly in their humble homes, as village musicians played music and sang. These ritual healings would often last through an entire night and end with the affected women making a pilgrimage to the church of St. Paul "of the Spiders" in Melpignano. The words of the anthropologist Ernesto De Martino are used to explain the psychological power of these rituals to cleanse women of the effects of an oppressive social structure. This fascinating historical study is progressively intercut with images of the people of the region today, who infect the film with their healthy optimism about life in this arid and poor region of Italy. At the same time, the film is moved forward by the prospect of a popular music festival to be held in the town of Melpignano, celebrating the traditions of Pizzica (bite) music.
Eventually, the theme of the upcoming music festival takes over. We see the preparations, the auditions, the instructions given by Maestro Ambrogio Sparagno to the performers, who will become part of a new ensemble, the Orchestra Popolare La Notte della Taranta. We see the townspeople getting excited in spite of themselves about the arrival of 50, 60 or 70, 000 people for this all night musical feast in August. The mayor of the town gives an interview in which he talks about the significance of the preservation of traditional culture for this region, which has been drained by emigration for over a century. For him and for many others, the concert has become a symbol of a healing of this open wound in the rural society. That it is also an economic shot in the arm for this isolated province is not bad, either.
The auditions are wonderful to watch, the clear, brilliant voices of the singers, mostly women, who show up to sing the age old melismatic, entrancing sounds of pizzica, add a glorious new dimension to the story. The beauty of their dark Mediterranean faces, the grace of their movements and the quicksilver flow of their singing is magical. Finally, the night of the concert arrives, "La Notte della Taranta." Tens of thousands of people have materialized, mostly young people who are filled with enthusiasm, dancing on the grass at the outdoor concert, and jumping up and down in a sea of tarantism. The elderly townspeople, who had been seen earlier in the film debating dubiously about the coming festival, are shown watching on their huge living room TVs. At first they sit skeptically on the edge of their upholstery, then they begin to clap softly, then eventually rising to their feet to dance around the room with the uncontainable joy of seeing their lifelong culture finally justified by the television cameras. For a people who have lived their culture for decades laboring under obscurity and prejudice, it is liberating moment.
Il Sibilo Lungo della Taranta is a multilayered and complex documentary that brings to life a world that is significant as a repository of ancient culture and knowledge which has been almost forgotten in our mad rush toward modernity. It is a joy to watch for any lovers of Mediterranean culture, and especially for those interested in the culture of Magna Grecia, the lands of Southern Italy that were a major part of the Greek civilization before the rise of Rome. These are the lands where the synthesis of Greek and Roman culture first came about, forming the basis for our Western world. For those of us who are the children of the great Southern Italian diaspora in Europe and the Americas, it can also have another great significance, as an opportunity to see how our ancestral lands can continue to develop and be relevant to our lives. We have forgotten too much because our grandparents spoke with a voice that we could never understand. Finally we have an opportunity to hear them speak with the voices of our contemporaries and it is a glorious revelation.
The Documentary is a production of Big Sur in collaboration with local entities of the Province of Lecce. Paolo Pisanelli is a filmmaker with several well received documentaries to his credit, including films about Don Vitaliano, the activist priest, and another about Enrico Berlinguer, the late leader of the PCI.
Dominic Ambrose is a writer and script developer for an independent film company in Paris.
(text from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/tarantella-pizzica-music-and-dance-of-myth-and-psychic-energy.html
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Il Nostro Matrimonio Caraibico/Our Caribbean Wedding
Gli Sposi / The Newly Weds
Con il nostro ufficiale matrimoniale in maglietta hawaiana e occhiali da sole With our Minister in hawaiian shirt and sunglasses
La nostra testimone spiaggiante / Our sunbathing witness
Brindisi nuziale al rum / Rum wedding toast
La torta nuziale / Our wedding cake
No comment
No comment
Un cuore di palma per noi 
I Compromessi Sposi/Just marriedPrima in Italiano:
Quando la burocrazia italiana ti rende la vita impossibile per registrare il tuo nuovo stato civile all'estero... cosa fai? Facile, ti sposi all'estero e trasferisci il tuo stato civile in Italia! E quando l'estero significa gli Stati Uniti allora hai la liberta' di sposarti ovunque, sulla cima di una montagna, in bagno e persino su una spiaggia tropicale circondata dal cielo piu' blu e dalle nuvole piu' bianche sull'isola di St Thomas nell'arcipelago delle US Vergin Islands!!
Quando la burocrazia italiana ti rende la vita impossibile per registrare il tuo nuovo stato civile all'estero... cosa fai? Facile, ti sposi all'estero e trasferisci il tuo stato civile in Italia! E quando l'estero significa gli Stati Uniti allora hai la liberta' di sposarti ovunque, sulla cima di una montagna, in bagno e persino su una spiaggia tropicale circondata dal cielo piu' blu e dalle nuvole piu' bianche sull'isola di St Thomas nell'arcipelago delle US Vergin Islands!!
Ma come ha tenuto ha precisare il padre della sposa, il matrimonio vero si terra' a Bari (in chiesa) il giorno 29 Dicembre, quindi ci vediamo tutti li'!!!
Baci, I coniugi Zambotti
And now in English:
When the Italian bureaucracy makes it impossible to transfer your new civil status abroad, what do you do? You get married abroad and transfer your new civil status to Italy! And when abroad means the US, you have the freedom to get married anywhere, on the top of a mountain, in the bathroom or on a tropical beach surrounded by the bluest sky and the whitest puffy clouds on St Thomas Insland in th US Vergin Islands!!!
Baci, I coniugi Zambotti
And now in English:
When the Italian bureaucracy makes it impossible to transfer your new civil status abroad, what do you do? You get married abroad and transfer your new civil status to Italy! And when abroad means the US, you have the freedom to get married anywhere, on the top of a mountain, in the bathroom or on a tropical beach surrounded by the bluest sky and the whitest puffy clouds on St Thomas Insland in th US Vergin Islands!!!
BUT, as the father of the bride stated, the real wedding will be in the church of Bari, on December 29th! See you there!!!
Mr and Mrs Zambotti
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
LA LISTA NOZZE
Finalmente ciò che tutti stavate aspettando:
LA LISTA COZZE!!!
Opzione numero uno:
Abbiamo selezionato alcune cose che ci piacciono molto, oggetti che vorremmo avere con noi negli anni a venire e che ci ricordino il giorno del nostro matrimonio, tutti gli amici e i familiari che condividono con noi la nostra grandissima gioia. Collegatevi ai seguenti siti web e scegliete qualsiasi cosa vi piaccia:
http://thegoodchina.com/. Qui troverete la nostra scelta di piatti, posate e bicchieri, oggetti preziosi che ci godremo assieme ad ognuno di voi, appena verrete a trovarci per cena. Dalla barra del menu principale, cliccate su ‘Registry’, inserite il nome di uno degli sposi e fate la vostra scelta.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/. Qui troverete la nostra selezione di oggetti da cucina indispensabili, cose semplici che ci accompagneranno nella vita di ogni giorno. Dalla barra del menu principale, cliccate su ‘Registry’, poi ‘Find Registry’, inserite il nome di uno degli sposi e fate la vostra scelta. PURTROPPO ci e' stato appena segnalato dall'amico Enzo che questa lista funziona solo con carte di credito americane... :(
Opzione numero due:
Una delle nostre passioni nella vita è la musica e pensiamo che una casa non possa essere realmente definita tale se non c’è un pianoforte che suona la nostra musica preferita. Di conseguenza ci piacerebbe comprare un pianoforte per la nostra nuova casa di Washington. Se desiderate aiutarci a realizzare questo sogno, contribuite con qualunque somma desiderate. Vi terremo informati sul pianoforte che decideremo di acquistare e vi aspettiamo presto per fare un po’ di musica insieme.
Grazie di cuore!
Antonia e Marco
LA LISTA COZZE!!!
Opzione numero uno:
Abbiamo selezionato alcune cose che ci piacciono molto, oggetti che vorremmo avere con noi negli anni a venire e che ci ricordino il giorno del nostro matrimonio, tutti gli amici e i familiari che condividono con noi la nostra grandissima gioia. Collegatevi ai seguenti siti web e scegliete qualsiasi cosa vi piaccia:
http://thegoodchina.com/. Qui troverete la nostra scelta di piatti, posate e bicchieri, oggetti preziosi che ci godremo assieme ad ognuno di voi, appena verrete a trovarci per cena. Dalla barra del menu principale, cliccate su ‘Registry’, inserite il nome di uno degli sposi e fate la vostra scelta.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/. Qui troverete la nostra selezione di oggetti da cucina indispensabili, cose semplici che ci accompagneranno nella vita di ogni giorno. Dalla barra del menu principale, cliccate su ‘Registry’, poi ‘Find Registry’, inserite il nome di uno degli sposi e fate la vostra scelta. PURTROPPO ci e' stato appena segnalato dall'amico Enzo che questa lista funziona solo con carte di credito americane... :(
Opzione numero due:
Una delle nostre passioni nella vita è la musica e pensiamo che una casa non possa essere realmente definita tale se non c’è un pianoforte che suona la nostra musica preferita. Di conseguenza ci piacerebbe comprare un pianoforte per la nostra nuova casa di Washington. Se desiderate aiutarci a realizzare questo sogno, contribuite con qualunque somma desiderate. Vi terremo informati sul pianoforte che decideremo di acquistare e vi aspettiamo presto per fare un po’ di musica insieme.
Grazie di cuore!
Antonia e Marco
THE REGISTRY
Finally what you all have been waiting for:
THE WEDDING REGISTRY!!!
Option One:
We have selected a few things we really like, items that we would like to have with us for the years to come as a memory of our wedding day, of all the friends and family who share our greatest joy.
Please, log on one of the following websites and choose whatever you like, if you wish to do so:
http://thegoodchina.com. Here you’ll find our selection of dinnerware, flatware and stemware, precious items that we’ll enjoy together when we’ll be treating each of you to a nice dinner. Select ‘Registry’ from the main menu bar, type in the name of either of the spouses and make your purchase.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com. Here you’ll find our selection of indispensable kitchenware, simple things that will be with us every day. Select ‘Registry’ from the main menu bar, then ‘Find Registry,’ type in the name of either of the spouses and make your purchase.
Option Two:
One of our passions in life is music and we feel that no place can be really called home unless there’s a piano there playing our favorite music. Accordingly, we’ve been dreaming about having a piano in our new home in Washington, DC. If you wish to help us fulfill this dream of ours, please just contribute whatever amount you wish. We’ll let you know about our final purchase and will be happy to make music together some time soon.
Grazie di cuore!
Antonia & Marco
THE WEDDING REGISTRY!!!
Option One:
We have selected a few things we really like, items that we would like to have with us for the years to come as a memory of our wedding day, of all the friends and family who share our greatest joy.
Please, log on one of the following websites and choose whatever you like, if you wish to do so:
http://thegoodchina.com. Here you’ll find our selection of dinnerware, flatware and stemware, precious items that we’ll enjoy together when we’ll be treating each of you to a nice dinner. Select ‘Registry’ from the main menu bar, type in the name of either of the spouses and make your purchase.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com. Here you’ll find our selection of indispensable kitchenware, simple things that will be with us every day. Select ‘Registry’ from the main menu bar, then ‘Find Registry,’ type in the name of either of the spouses and make your purchase.
Option Two:
One of our passions in life is music and we feel that no place can be really called home unless there’s a piano there playing our favorite music. Accordingly, we’ve been dreaming about having a piano in our new home in Washington, DC. If you wish to help us fulfill this dream of ours, please just contribute whatever amount you wish. We’ll let you know about our final purchase and will be happy to make music together some time soon.
Grazie di cuore!
Antonia & Marco
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Cuisine and gastronomy of Bari
Bari's cuisine, one of Italy's most traditional and noteworthy, is based on three typical agricultural products found within the surrounding Puglia region, namely wheat, olive oil and wine. Bari cuisine is also enriched by the wide variety of fruit and vegetables produced locally. Local flour is used in homemade bread and pasta production including, most notably, the famous orecchiette hat-shaped pasta, recchietelle or strascinate, chiancarelle (orecchiette of different sizes) and cavatelli.
Homemade dough is also used for baked calzoni stuffed with onions, anchovies, capers and olives; fried panzerotti with mozzarella, simple focaccia alla barese with tomatoes, little savoury taralli, friselle and sgagliozze, fried slices of polenta all make up the Bari culinary reportoire.
Olive oil and garlic are widely in use. Vegetable minestrone, chick peas, broad beans, chickory, celery and fennel are also often served as first courses or side dishes.
Meat dishes and the local Barese ragù often include lamb, pork and often horse meat, considered something of a local delicacy.
Pasta al forno, a baked pasta dish, is very popular in Bari and was historically a Sunday dish, or a dish used at the start of Lent when all the rich ingredients such as eggs and pork had to be used for religious reasons. The recipe commonly consists of penne or similar tubular pasta shapes, a tomato sauce, small beef and pork meatballs and halved hard boiled eggs; but different families have variations. The pasta is then topped with mozzarella or similar cheese and then baked in the oven to make the dish have its trademark crispy texture.
Bari, being the capital of an important fishing area, offers a range of fresh fish and seafood, often eaten raw. Octopus, sea urchins and mussels feature heavily. Indeed, perhaps Bari's most famous dish is the oven-baked Riso, patate e cozze (rice, with potatoes and mussels).
The Weather in Bari
| Climate data for Bari | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 12 (54) | 12 (54) | 14 (57) | 17 (63) | 21 (70) | 25 (77) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 25 (77) | 21 (70) | 16 (61) | 13 (55) | 20 (68) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 8 (46) | 8 (46) | 11 (52) | 13 (55) | 17 (63) | 21 (70) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 21 (70) | 17 (63) | 12 (54) | 10 (50) | 16 (61) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 5 (41) | 5 (41) | 6 (43) | 8 (46) | 12 (54) | 16 (61) | 19 (66) | 19 (66) | 16 (61) | 13 (55) | 8 (46) | 6 (43) | 11 (52) |
| Precipitation cm (inches) | 4 (1.6) | 4 (1.6) | 7 (2.8) | 3 (1.2) | 3 (1.2) | 4 (1.6) | 2 (0.8) | 3 (1.2) | 5 (2) | 5 (2) | 5 (2) | 7 (2.8) | 57 (22.4) |
FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM BARI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwgur9cSXHI
Sai chi e' quel giocatore che... assomiglia al magico Pele'??
JOAO PAULO, an icon in the Italian-Brazilian-Barese Soccer
Nicola di Bari, the current (past and future) idol of teenagers (che colpa ne ho, se il cuore e' uno zingarooo)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwgur9cSXHI
Rudolph Valent
ino (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926) was an Italian actor, sex symbol, and early pop icon. Known as the "Latin Lover",[1] he was one of the most popular international stars of the 1920s, and one of the most recognized stars of the silent film era. He is best known for his work in The Sheik and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. His death at age 31 caused mass hysteria among his female fans, propelling him into icon status.[2]
Domenico Modugno, author one of the most famous and intellectual song of all times: Volare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4IjJav7xbg
Least but not last, the greatest rock band of the Italian contemporary musical scene: AL Bano and Romina Power. Don't miss this bootleg from their latest concert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKNv-zQFr_M
Barese for dummies
Barese for dummies: 101 expression you need to know before landing in the land of Bari with the hope of leaving it alive...
To get someone's attention
1) Giovaneeeee!!!!!!! (=excuse me, gentleman, can I have your attention, please?)
2) Capooooooo!!!! (like above, with more vigor, in case the gentleman did not respond)
3) Aoooooh! (like above, with even more vigor. I think the gentleman does not like you)
To answer:
1) CIU UE'!!!???? (the gentleman reply: what would you like?)
To ask about the price of something:
1) Quant'e' il danno? (=how much is the damage?)
To tell him that the price is quite high (he/she got you are a foreigner)
1) Vai a rubare (go steal someone else's money, would you please?)
To ask for the train station:
1) Scusa, giovane, devo andare alla stazione...
To reply to that request:
1) E va', va'...
To express wonder, happiness and emotions:
1) MO! Che gibillero! (pronounced: MO, Ke Jebillero)
2) La iosa!!!
3) Mo e ci je'!!
4) C ije' beeell!!
BARI on GOOGLE MAP (where is the church, where is the port, where is the station, where to go shopping!!!)
View Larger Map
Click on View Large Map, click on search near by, edit "shopping"... YOU CAN SHOP EVERYWHERE IN BARI!!!
Hot spots: Via Sparano, Via Argiro, Via Melo, Corso Cavour. They run parallel to each other, perpendicular to Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Some references: Hotel Palace is on Corso Vittorio Emanuele (Bari's main street, perpendicular to Via Sparano).
You can also see my house with street view: Via tommaso fiore 120 70123 bari
New Year's Eve with us!
Depending on who we are and how many we are, we are thinking of celebrating new Year's Eve in an exciting way. For those of you who are not in a harry to leave Bari, stay tuned!!
See Naples and then...
OK, read this page while listening this from another window:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS6-b7CONDI&feature=related
A little diversion from Puglia (Apulia in English) will bring you in about 3 hours to the beautiful city of Naples on the West coast... Yes, think smaller, a coast to coast in 3 hours!!
Antonia has lived more than a year in Naples and has a suggestion for you. This is not like any city you have ever visited, this is Naples! And only one rule governs it: either you love it, or you die!
Suggested tour:
December 28: arrive in Bari
December 29: the wedding of the year
December 30 and 31: stay with us in Bari & surroundings. Stay with us for new year's eve.
Day 1. Arrive to So
rrento. Visit the city and surroundings (options: Amalfi, Ravello, Positano). Spend the night in Positano (picture on the left)Day 2. Still Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello and Positano. Spend the night in Positano
Day 3. Go to Capri
Day 4. Go to Pompei. Spend the night in Naples
Day 5. Spend the day in Naples
Day 6, 7, 8, 9. Rome
Day 10. Back to Bari
Day 11. Bye bye Italy
11 things you must see in Naples:
1) Castel dell'Ovo (in the pict
ure)2) Get the funicolare and go up to Castel Sant'Elmo
3) Maschio Angioino
4) Palazzo Reale and in the square a coffe from Caffe' Gambrinus
5) Via Toledo and Spaccanapoli
6) Absolutely a pastry+coffe from Pasticceria Scaturchio
7) Virgil Tumb in Margellina District
8) The tango dancing on Sunday night under Galleria Umberto I
9) A tour of the Napoli underground (the ancient greek aqueduct which became the roman aqueduct, which became the borbon acqueduct which became the world war II refuge!!!)
10) The Sibil Antrum in Cuma
11) The Terra district in Pozzuoli
Suggested Hotel (avoid Stazione Centrale district and Piazza Garibaldi)
Hotel Miramare
Via Nazario Sauro 24, Lungomare Caracciolo, Naples • Show map
Hotel Miramare is set between Piazza del Plebiscito and Castel dell'Ovo. The terrace offers great views of the Bay of Naples. Breakfast is served here San Francesco al Monte
Located at the foot of the Sant’Elmo Fortress in a wonderfully panoramic setting, San Francesco Al Monte offers atmospheric accommodation easy walking distance from Naples city centre Hotel Royal Continental
Via Partenope 38/44, Lungomare Caracciolo, Naples • Show map
Enjoy stunning sea views of the Bay of Naples and the Castel dell'Ovo from Hotel Royal Continental, a large 4-star structure set in an unbeatable location on the seafront promenade. Grand Hotel Parkers 
Corso Vittorio Emanuele 135, Naples • Show map
Grand Hotel Parkers offers extremely luxurious accommodation in the residential Corso Vittorio Emanuele, with amazing views of the Gulf of Naples, and good transport links La Ciliegina Lifestyle Hotel
Via Paolo Emilio Imbriani 30, Plebiscito, Napoli • Show map
Located just 250 metres from Naples' opera house Teatro di San Carlo, close to the harbour, La Ciliegina offers ultra-modern rooms with hydromassage showers and LCD TVs
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Day trips around Bari: Vooolareee!! oh!! oh!!
Ever wanted to know where that famous Volareee Oh Oh, Cantareee, Oh Oh Oh Oh song was written? And the answer is Polignano... (30 minutes South of Bari). YES, it's beautiful!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4IjJav7xbg
(you'll hear it when clicking on the title)
And guess what... hidden under those grottoes you can find exquisite restaurants! Check this out: http://www.grottapalazzese.it/it/home/A tour of Apulian wines
Before we even get started let' have a drink! Here is the list of the 25 DOC wines of Puglia:
Aleatico di Puglia
Alezio
Brindisi
Cacc' é mmitte di Lucera
Castel del Monte (THIS IS THE WINE WE WILL BE DRINKING AT THE WEDDING, OPEN BAR!)
Copertino
Gioia del Colle
Gravina
Leverano
Lizzano
Locorotondo
Martina o Martina Franca
Matino
Moscato di Trani
Nardò
Ortanova
Ostuni
Primitivo di Manduria
Rosso di Barletta
Rosso di Canosa
Rosso di Cerignola
San Severo
Salice Salentino (THIS IS TOM'S FAVOURITE! Happily found in Arlington's liquor store!)
Squinzano
Galatina
Alezio
Brindisi
Cacc' é mmitte di Lucera
Castel del Monte (THIS IS THE WINE WE WILL BE DRINKING AT THE WEDDING, OPEN BAR!)
Copertino
Gioia del Colle
Gravina
Leverano
Lizzano
Locorotondo
Martina o Martina Franca
Matino
Moscato di Trani
Nardò
Ortanova
Ostuni
Primitivo di Manduria
Rosso di Barletta
Rosso di Canosa
Rosso di Cerignola
San Severo
Salice Salentino (THIS IS TOM'S FAVOURITE! Happily found in Arlington's liquor store!)
Squinzano
Galatina
Not to be forgotten: my friend Costantino's family reserve, preciously hidden in the land of Adelfia... Invite us Costa, invite us!
Some history, of course...
Wine production in southern Italy and in Apulia in particular, can betraced back to Egyptian times. Phoenicians with whom the region hadextensive trading links, were fully appreciative of the rare qualityproduced.
Later on the Romans had the chance to appreciate it, indeed they even wrote about it! : Tibullo 54 b.c. , Pliny the " elder" 79 b.c. and Orace 65 b.c. were all complimentary of such strong wine, adding valuable information on the method of production of the time.Frederick II of Swabia did much during his reign to promote the cultivation of such nectar in a land blessed with ideal climate.
Apulia is one of the largest producers by yield , in the world.
In the past, because of their potency they were largely used to "cut" other wines.
Fortunately in the mid 80' this changed and instead of going for quantity, DOC was achieved by over twenty wines. This has been possible with substantial investment and a sense of pride in what is a superb natural product, furthermore a sharp focus on quality andon some less known grapes has propelled the wines of this region to international recognition.
In the past, because of their potency they were largely used to "cut" other wines.
Fortunately in the mid 80' this changed and instead of going for quantity, DOC was achieved by over twenty wines. This has been possible with substantial investment and a sense of pride in what is a superb natural product, furthermore a sharp focus on quality andon some less known grapes has propelled the wines of this region to international recognition.
Today Apulia boasts 25 wines DOC with 52 reds, 28 whites, 22 rose , 17 sweet and 9 spumante.
Some of the best known wines are slowly finding their way to the UK and Ireland like : Primitivo di Manduria and others full bodied garnet coloured wines.
Some of the best known wines are slowly finding their way to the UK and Ireland like : Primitivo di Manduria and others full bodied garnet coloured wines.
If you want to get closer to the real scene of wine production, we suggest you visit the beautiful town of Locorotondo, a must see if you are touring in the Valle d?itria region, home of Alberobello (see post on Alberobello & Trulli). By train or by car, it is an hour trip from Bari. Here is a nice snap of the historic centre during a typical day in October. Wish to be there!
But don't forget... which ever wine you drink... Alla Salute!
The land of the olive trees
Travlling in Italy will bring you back and forth across many centuries.
After crossing the Appenini mountains, heading South, you will know you have almost made it when you see the first olive trees slowly appearing along the road... Welcome to Puglia!
According the Greek mythology, the goddess Athena planted the first olive tree, which with its fruits would have given to men a wonderful juice. The Greeks considered the olive tree a holy plant (symbol of strength, faith, peace) so who damaged or uprooted it was sent to exile.
The first olive oil cultivations were found in the south of Caucaso and, according to the historians were, gradually extended to the isles of Rhodes, Cyprus, Crete and then in all the Mediterranean areas.
The finds in Puglia( Torre a mare- Bari- and Fasano- Brindisi) date back to Neolitico (5000 b. C.):these confirm that olives were already in those times a very important food for people living in that region.
The discovers in the South of Italy, representing scenes of harvest, production and sale of the olives, and the finds of cans minted in Messina, Crotone and Taranto representing olives’ leaves and branches, had been very important to reconstruct the history of this tree of a thousand uses.
In fact, as the Greeks, even the Romans learnt to use widely oil for body’s health: men, women, adults and young people, ill and healthy, everyone used it many times during the day.
It was rubbed into the skin before and after the bath, as a cleanser and aintment, made rich with scents extracted by flowers and plants.
Oil was used even for supplying oil lamps; the discover of some oil ships shipwrecked in the Mediterranean Sea confirmed it.
The first olive oil cultivations were found in the south of Caucaso and, according to the historians were, gradually extended to the isles of Rhodes, Cyprus, Crete and then in all the Mediterranean areas.
The finds in Puglia( Torre a mare- Bari- and Fasano- Brindisi) date back to Neolitico (5000 b. C.):these confirm that olives were already in those times a very important food for people living in that region.
The discovers in the South of Italy, representing scenes of harvest, production and sale of the olives, and the finds of cans minted in Messina, Crotone and Taranto representing olives’ leaves and branches, had been very important to reconstruct the history of this tree of a thousand uses.
In fact, as the Greeks, even the Romans learnt to use widely oil for body’s health: men, women, adults and young people, ill and healthy, everyone used it many times during the day.
It was rubbed into the skin before and after the bath, as a cleanser and aintment, made rich with scents extracted by flowers and plants.
Oil was used even for supplying oil lamps; the discover of some oil ships shipwrecked in the Mediterranean Sea confirmed it.
Puglia, with its 50 and over millions of olive trees, is first in producing olives and oil and for this reason we can say it is the most important region in Italy in the field of olive growing.
The oil produced here is strictly extravirgin(virgin olive oil of impeccable taste whose acidity cannot be larger than I g per 100gr.
The extravirgin oil made of olive from Puglia has different characteristic because of the different kinds of olives it is made of.
The most delicate quality of extravirgin oil, golden-coloured, of a sweet taste with a light itch is ideal for dishes served raw.
The medium type, of a deep golden colour, with a light and a bit herbaceous taste, is good for steamed dishes and salt ones.
The most intense one of a yellow- greenish colour, with a rich fruity flavour and slightly spicy taste, is good for grills and roasts, the best one for fried food because it doesn’t modify his chemical and physical structure even at high temperature, so it is not harmful for health.
The oil produced here is strictly extravirgin(virgin olive oil of impeccable taste whose acidity cannot be larger than I g per 100gr.
The extravirgin oil made of olive from Puglia has different characteristic because of the different kinds of olives it is made of.
The most delicate quality of extravirgin oil, golden-coloured, of a sweet taste with a light itch is ideal for dishes served raw.
The medium type, of a deep golden colour, with a light and a bit herbaceous taste, is good for steamed dishes and salt ones.
The most intense one of a yellow- greenish colour, with a rich fruity flavour and slightly spicy taste, is good for grills and roasts, the best one for fried food because it doesn’t modify his chemical and physical structure even at high temperature, so it is not harmful for health.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
getting organized for the event
Details about the day before the wedding, the wedding day and the two days after the wedding and New Year's Eve are coming soon. Stay tuned!
Day-trips around Bari: (5) Giovinazzo - Molfetta - Trani
Among the most astonishing places in Puglia, these three cities are located on the cliffs of the beautiful Adriatic sea in the Northern part of the Province of Bari.
Giovinazzo (left) is Antonia's favourite place in the world.
Giovinazzo (left) is Antonia's favourite place in the world.
Originally a Roman fortification, during the centuries Giovinazzo has slowly grown around the fishing activity. The historic centre just around the port area preserves beautiful palaces from the XII to the XVII centuries. A walk through the narrow streets down to the port shore is a must during a warm Winter afternoon. Just on the opposite site of the scene of this photograph is the lovely pizzeria "Il localetto", best pizza in Puglia.
One last curiosity: American actor John Turturro's father, Nicholas Turturro, immigrated to the United States from Giovinazzo in the first half of the 20th century.
Still heading North, you'll enter the beautiful city of Molfetta, native town of the dear and beloved friend Cristoforo, also known as San Cristobal de la Casa de Molfeta (pronounced with a close "o" elongated almost as a "u"and one "t").
The city is famous in the world for its beautiful Middle Age Dome facing the port, the famous historic centre "Ind a la terr" and, of course, the Molfettesi population, millions of which are currently spread around the world but are still recognizable by their distinctive accent (... so to speak, or actually spEAk).
And if you are really in the mood to step back to about 1000 years ago, don't miss the interior of one of most beautiful example of Romanesque architecture, the St. Nicholas Cathedral of Trani (few kilometres North of Molfetta). From the square you can head towards the main street, usually crowded with little bars and restaurants. You want to stop for a taste of the famous local dessert wine, the Moscato di Trani, rigouroursly accompanied by almond pastries and sweets. Day-trips around Bari: (4) Matera Sassi
Matera Sassi
(65 km, 40 mi from Bari)
The Murgia Materana is a slightly undulating, bleak limestone plateau with Mediterranean maquis and copse woods. Its most striking feature is the sudden appearance of a deep gorge (70/80 m, 230/260 ft), through which a torrent runs. This is the so-called “Gravina di Matera.” The walls of this gully – and other, smaller caves – have been home over thousands of years to various forms of civilisation. From the troglodyte villages of the Neolithic period to the diverse Eastern-style cave dwelling habitats of the 8th - 10th centuries or the fortified Norman/Swabian citadels (11th - 13th centuries). Not forgetting the usual Renaissance expansion during the 15th and 16th centuries, or the striking and unforeseeable changes to town layouts practised during the Baroque period (17th and 18th centuries).It all led to a complex town layout with buildings piled on top of one another and over any available spaces or holes, roads becoming rooftops and water collection perfected in a system of channels and reservoirs. Rural social customs found such a system ideal for their feelings of mutual aid. Such are the Sassi di Matera - the oldest part of town. A breathtaking town plan. The result of a centuries-long anthropomorphisation of the most inhospitable type of land anyone could hope never to find. This was the result of centuries of living in caves and then a more civilised type of town with its “European culture.”Between the 19th and 20th centuries, the Sassi districts underwent a slow decline, and were lived in by the poorest elements of society (16,000 in 1950). Frightful social and health conditions were the norm.These impossible conditions during the last century left people no choice but to go and live in the caves. Carlo Levi understood this well in his novel “Christ stopped at Eboli,” which shone a spotlight on the complete abandonment of the area, although he has never been back since. Under the terms of the Transfer Planning Law of 1952, the Ministry of Public Works, Department of Agriculture and Forests and the Treasury Department ordered the eviction of residents in the Sassi, who were forcibly moved to specially built new homes in the suburbs. This dramatic solution to the terrible social and health conditions (but not to urban decay, which was to see Jerry-built housing increase) would later have its effects on society and the town’s own feelings of identity. The recovery of the ancient town and its identity was the main aim of the recovery programme in the Sassi district.This operation, both cultural and political, provided for a breath of life into the Sassi district of Matera in the 60’s and 70’s was based on the rich amalgam of ideas and suggestions which, in a more on-going European context, tended to bring city centres to the fore.
http://www.sassidimatera.it/
(65 km, 40 mi from Bari)
The Murgia Materana is a slightly undulating, bleak limestone plateau with Mediterranean maquis and copse woods. Its most striking feature is the sudden appearance of a deep gorge (70/80 m, 230/260 ft), through which a torrent runs. This is the so-called “Gravina di Matera.” The walls of this gully – and other, smaller caves – have been home over thousands of years to various forms of civilisation. From the troglodyte villages of the Neolithic period to the diverse Eastern-style cave dwelling habitats of the 8th - 10th centuries or the fortified Norman/Swabian citadels (11th - 13th centuries). Not forgetting the usual Renaissance expansion during the 15th and 16th centuries, or the striking and unforeseeable changes to town layouts practised during the Baroque period (17th and 18th centuries).It all led to a complex town layout with buildings piled on top of one another and over any available spaces or holes, roads becoming rooftops and water collection perfected in a system of channels and reservoirs. Rural social customs found such a system ideal for their feelings of mutual aid. Such are the Sassi di Matera - the oldest part of town. A breathtaking town plan. The result of a centuries-long anthropomorphisation of the most inhospitable type of land anyone could hope never to find. This was the result of centuries of living in caves and then a more civilised type of town with its “European culture.”Between the 19th and 20th centuries, the Sassi districts underwent a slow decline, and were lived in by the poorest elements of society (16,000 in 1950). Frightful social and health conditions were the norm.These impossible conditions during the last century left people no choice but to go and live in the caves. Carlo Levi understood this well in his novel “Christ stopped at Eboli,” which shone a spotlight on the complete abandonment of the area, although he has never been back since. Under the terms of the Transfer Planning Law of 1952, the Ministry of Public Works, Department of Agriculture and Forests and the Treasury Department ordered the eviction of residents in the Sassi, who were forcibly moved to specially built new homes in the suburbs. This dramatic solution to the terrible social and health conditions (but not to urban decay, which was to see Jerry-built housing increase) would later have its effects on society and the town’s own feelings of identity. The recovery of the ancient town and its identity was the main aim of the recovery programme in the Sassi district.This operation, both cultural and political, provided for a breath of life into the Sassi district of Matera in the 60’s and 70’s was based on the rich amalgam of ideas and suggestions which, in a more on-going European context, tended to bring city centres to the fore.
http://www.sassidimatera.it/
Day-trips around Bari: (3) Grottoes of Castellana
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Grottoes of Castellana
(40 km, 25 mi from Bari)
40 Kms south-east of Bari, the busy, industrial and administrative capital of Apulia, lies the little town of Castellana whose origins go back even further than the 10th century. For a number of years now, the town has been called Castellana-Grotte and is the most important tourist attraction in Apulia, as well as one of the most famous in the whole of southern Italy. It owes its rapid and lucky notoriety to the discovery on January 23rd, 1938 of a vast system of natural underground caves. The Grottos of Castellana represent one of the most important series of natural underground caves in Italy and Europe, a reputation gained not only because of their size but above all for the spectacularity of the natural galleries and the prodigious wealth of crystalline concretions.
http://www.grottedicastellana.it/
(40 km, 25 mi from Bari)
40 Kms south-east of Bari, the busy, industrial and administrative capital of Apulia, lies the little town of Castellana whose origins go back even further than the 10th century. For a number of years now, the town has been called Castellana-Grotte and is the most important tourist attraction in Apulia, as well as one of the most famous in the whole of southern Italy. It owes its rapid and lucky notoriety to the discovery on January 23rd, 1938 of a vast system of natural underground caves. The Grottos of Castellana represent one of the most important series of natural underground caves in Italy and Europe, a reputation gained not only because of their size but above all for the spectacularity of the natural galleries and the prodigious wealth of crystalline concretions.
http://www.grottedicastellana.it/
Day-trips around Bari: (2) Alberobello and Trulli area
Alberobello and Trulli area
(56 km, 34 mi from Bari)
The Trullo is a characteristic peasant or artisan's house built using a unique and bold technique. It is built around a central plan with dry stone limestone walls, on top of which sits a conical-shaped roof. The walls are whitewashed; the conical roof which comes to a deft pinnacle, is covered with concentric and slanting rows of smooth, grey slabs of local stone, called "chiancarelle", which are put in place without the use of mortar. The Trulli can be found in the hills of the Murgia in an area where the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto meet. Here you can come across hospitable little towns with their whitewashed walls and charming vernacular architecture, bathed in history, tradition and natural attractions; places such as Castellana-Grotte, Conversano, Gioia del Colle, Locorotondo, Noci and Putignano in the Province of Bari; Martina franca in the Province of Taranto; Ceglie Messapico, Cisternino, Ostuni and Selva di Fasano in the Province of Brindisi. The most spectacular urban concentration of Trulli is to be found in Alberobello. In this small town, famous the world over, the Trulli are organized into districts. The fabulous Monti district boasts over 1000 Trulli set along picturesque, sloping streets, paved in the local stone. The whole town maintains a dream-like quality, almost like something out of a fairy-tale, bathed in the limpid light of the Eastern Mediterranean that of Alberobello an enrolled only landscape in 1996, list UNESCO of the assets " Patrimony of the Humanity ".
NOTE: if you have some extra time, don't miss the nearby cities of Locorotondo, famous for its wine, Conversano and Martina Franca, known for their beautiful baroque architecture.
(56 km, 34 mi from Bari)
The Trullo is a characteristic peasant or artisan's house built using a unique and bold technique. It is built around a central plan with dry stone limestone walls, on top of which sits a conical-shaped roof. The walls are whitewashed; the conical roof which comes to a deft pinnacle, is covered with concentric and slanting rows of smooth, grey slabs of local stone, called "chiancarelle", which are put in place without the use of mortar. The Trulli can be found in the hills of the Murgia in an area where the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto meet. Here you can come across hospitable little towns with their whitewashed walls and charming vernacular architecture, bathed in history, tradition and natural attractions; places such as Castellana-Grotte, Conversano, Gioia del Colle, Locorotondo, Noci and Putignano in the Province of Bari; Martina franca in the Province of Taranto; Ceglie Messapico, Cisternino, Ostuni and Selva di Fasano in the Province of Brindisi. The most spectacular urban concentration of Trulli is to be found in Alberobello. In this small town, famous the world over, the Trulli are organized into districts. The fabulous Monti district boasts over 1000 Trulli set along picturesque, sloping streets, paved in the local stone. The whole town maintains a dream-like quality, almost like something out of a fairy-tale, bathed in the limpid light of the Eastern Mediterranean that of Alberobello an enrolled only landscape in 1996, list UNESCO of the assets " Patrimony of the Humanity ".
NOTE: if you have some extra time, don't miss the nearby cities of Locorotondo, famous for its wine, Conversano and Martina Franca, known for their beautiful baroque architecture.
Day-trips around Bari: (1) Castel del Monte
Castel del Monte
(57 km, 35 mi from Bari)
This unique medieval manor house stands on top of a hill in the Apulian Murgia, 540 metres above sea level and 18 kms from Andria. Castel del Monte was built in the first half of 1200 for Frederick II of Swabia, Roman Emperor and King of Sicily and Apulia, to serve as a manor house and hunting lodge. Various architectural elements and styles are harmoniously brought together in this one building: Classical, Renaissance, Romanesque, Gothic and Arabic. The monument reflects Frederick's cultural background; he was educated in Palermo where at the time three streams of culture flowed together: Roman, Arabic and Norman, permeated with italic influences. Castel del Monte ( named after the Benedictine church of Santa Maria del Monte which actually exists in that area) has a rich and varied history belonging to the period of the Reign of Naples. The castle, along with the town of Andria, was a part of the Royal State under the Swabians (1240-1266), the Angevins (1266-1443) and the Aragonese (1443-1503) who succeeded each other to the throne of Naples. The Castle and the town of Andria also became the vassals of the Del Balzos (1348-1502), the Cordovas (1503-1552) and the Carafas(1552-1799). It was from the latter that the Italian State managed to acquire the castle in 1876, declaring it a national monument.
http://www.casteldelmonte.beniculturali.it/
NOTE: if you have extra time, don't miss a visit to the very nice city of Ruvo located along the way to the Castle. The city is famous for its Primitivo wine, known as "Ruvo's 13 degrees", as a reference to its (very high) alcohol content.
Directions: work in progress
(57 km, 35 mi from Bari)
This unique medieval manor house stands on top of a hill in the Apulian Murgia, 540 metres above sea level and 18 kms from Andria. Castel del Monte was built in the first half of 1200 for Frederick II of Swabia, Roman Emperor and King of Sicily and Apulia, to serve as a manor house and hunting lodge. Various architectural elements and styles are harmoniously brought together in this one building: Classical, Renaissance, Romanesque, Gothic and Arabic. The monument reflects Frederick's cultural background; he was educated in Palermo where at the time three streams of culture flowed together: Roman, Arabic and Norman, permeated with italic influences. Castel del Monte ( named after the Benedictine church of Santa Maria del Monte which actually exists in that area) has a rich and varied history belonging to the period of the Reign of Naples. The castle, along with the town of Andria, was a part of the Royal State under the Swabians (1240-1266), the Angevins (1266-1443) and the Aragonese (1443-1503) who succeeded each other to the throne of Naples. The Castle and the town of Andria also became the vassals of the Del Balzos (1348-1502), the Cordovas (1503-1552) and the Carafas(1552-1799). It was from the latter that the Italian State managed to acquire the castle in 1876, declaring it a national monument.
http://www.casteldelmonte.beniculturali.it/
NOTE: if you have extra time, don't miss a visit to the very nice city of Ruvo located along the way to the Castle. The city is famous for its Primitivo wine, known as "Ruvo's 13 degrees", as a reference to its (very high) alcohol content.
Directions: work in progress
Wandering around Bari
In less than a century the area of Bari has increased more than tenfold. Its population has grown from 34.000 in 1861 to 400.000 today. Today Bari is the main city in the Italian region of Puglia (Apulia in English).
A long, straight road, the wide and well-lit Corso Vittorio Emanuele, divides the city into two distinct parts as if drawing the boundaries between two different periods in history. The memory of the courage of Medieval sailors lives on today in the maze of alleys and courtyards that characterises the Old Town, which jealousy guards its renowned monuments. It stands in stark contrast to the industrious, dynamic, modern city , with its long, wide roads along which have risen the many buildings which bear testimony to the city's prodigious urban development.
Walking along a stretch of the Imperatore Augusto Promenade we come to the Basilica of St. Nicholas. This is one of the most important examples of Romanesque architecture in Apulia. The building of the Basilica was commissioned by Abbot Elia in 1087 to preserve the remains of St. Nicholas and was finished in 1197.
Continuing along the Imperatore Augusto Promenade and then taking the Corso Senatore De Tullio we come to Castello Svevo, built by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II on the site of Norman ruins; the internal plan of the castle and the two massive angular towers reflect the influence of Norman architecture. It housed the magnificent court of Isabelle of Aragon e Bona Sforza, who had the large bulwarks with angular spear-shaped towers built in 1500, overlooking the moat. Walking down a medieval alleyway you come to the Cathedral, an excellent example of 12th century Romanesque Apulian architecture. Other churches of historical and artistic interest in the Old town are the Convent of St. Benedict; St. Mark's; St. Augustine's; the Vallisa; and the Church of Jesus. The Archway of Marvels and Nicolo' Puccini's house are also worth visiting. Going back towards the Castle and from Piazza Isabella D'Aragona, home to the Revenue Office, we can just see Corso Vittorio Veneto, at the very end of which stands the Fiera del levante, which in the wake of Bari's mercantile tradition, today represents a measure of the powerful economic and industrial development of the South.
In Corso Vittorio Emanuele you
can see the monument dedicated to Nicolo' Puccini and the Town hall. From here we can see Piazza Mercantile, with its "Sedile", the ancient seat of Bari's Council of Nobles, and the Column of Justice (on the left), to which in the Middle Age fraudulent debtors used to be tied as punishment. We can now get back onto the Nazario Sauro Promenade for a wonderful walk along the sea front. Immediately to the left is St. Nicholas' Pier where, every year on the morning of May 8th an important ceremony is held and the statue of the saint is taken out to sea under the watchful eyes of devotees and pilgrims. Here it is also the typical cove of " 'nderre a la lanz’," popular place of seafood tasting.
Again from Corso Vittorio Emanuele you can go down Via Sparano and admire its luxurious and elegant shops. At the end of Via Sparano you come to the main University building and the Archaeological Museum, which amongst other things houses an impressive collection of finds, including Greek and Apulian vases. Here you can also admire the monument to King Umberto I, work of the sculptor Antonio Cifariello. The city's railway station is situated in Piazza Moro, with its monumental fountain built by the Apulian Waterworks.
(from http://www.pugliaturismo.com/)
Walking along a stretch of the Imperatore Augusto Promenade we come to the Basilica of St. Nicholas. This is one of the most important examples of Romanesque architecture in Apulia. The building of the Basilica was commissioned by Abbot Elia in 1087 to preserve the remains of St. Nicholas and was finished in 1197.
Continuing along the Imperatore Augusto Promenade and then taking the Corso Senatore De Tullio we come to Castello Svevo, built by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II on the site of Norman ruins; the internal plan of the castle and the two massive angular towers reflect the influence of Norman architecture. It housed the magnificent court of Isabelle of Aragon e Bona Sforza, who had the large bulwarks with angular spear-shaped towers built in 1500, overlooking the moat. Walking down a medieval alleyway you come to the Cathedral, an excellent example of 12th century Romanesque Apulian architecture. Other churches of historical and artistic interest in the Old town are the Convent of St. Benedict; St. Mark's; St. Augustine's; the Vallisa; and the Church of Jesus. The Archway of Marvels and Nicolo' Puccini's house are also worth visiting. Going back towards the Castle and from Piazza Isabella D'Aragona, home to the Revenue Office, we can just see Corso Vittorio Veneto, at the very end of which stands the Fiera del levante, which in the wake of Bari's mercantile tradition, today represents a measure of the powerful economic and industrial development of the South.In Corso Vittorio Emanuele you
can see the monument dedicated to Nicolo' Puccini and the Town hall. From here we can see Piazza Mercantile, with its "Sedile", the ancient seat of Bari's Council of Nobles, and the Column of Justice (on the left), to which in the Middle Age fraudulent debtors used to be tied as punishment. We can now get back onto the Nazario Sauro Promenade for a wonderful walk along the sea front. Immediately to the left is St. Nicholas' Pier where, every year on the morning of May 8th an important ceremony is held and the statue of the saint is taken out to sea under the watchful eyes of devotees and pilgrims. Here it is also the typical cove of " 'nderre a la lanz’," popular place of seafood tasting.Again from Corso Vittorio Emanuele you can go down Via Sparano and admire its luxurious and elegant shops. At the end of Via Sparano you come to the main University building and the Archaeological Museum, which amongst other things houses an impressive collection of finds, including Greek and Apulian vases. Here you can also admire the monument to King Umberto I, work of the sculptor Antonio Cifariello. The city's railway station is situated in Piazza Moro, with its monumental fountain built by the Apulian Waterworks.
(from http://www.pugliaturismo.com/)
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