Puglia Socks Down 4
- krolesh
- Aug 11, 2024
- 3 min read
Stilettoing
We headed off exploring in the car the next day, down the coast.
Pretty soon we were in the hills above Monopoli, and came across some beautiful old olive groves. They were everywhere.
Whilst I posed for this pic, an olive farmer, Tomasio, drove past, turned around, and offered to show us some giant olive trees on his property. So sweet.
He gave us piles of fresh carob from his tree too. It was delicious.
Tomasio's humble abode. He invited us in for a shandy, a beer with lemonade, known as a bicicletta, or bicycle, in Italy.
After chatting for awhile we gratefully headed off, towards an incredible UNESCO World Heritage town called Alberobello, famous for its unique trulli, amazing conical shaped traditional buildings.
The houses were originally built in the 1600s with mortar-less dry walls, because it enabled the local residents to avoid paying taxes to the Spanish Viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples at the time, as they weren't regarded as proper houses, and could be relatively easily removed if necessary.
Over time the style became a tradition, which still lasts today, although a lot of the older trulli have been renovated and turned into guesthouses for tourists.
A view of the centre of town
Trulli amazing
We strolled into town and had the best ice coffee known to humans, the temperature was super super hot, and there were loads of red-faced and overcooked tourists.
The whole town was beautiful, not just the trulli bits.
Stands with lights, for an evening procession
Eventually we headed back into the hills.
Michael had a dip on the way, while I siesta-ed in the car and splashed around afterwards.
Lecce
We made our way to the second largest city in Puglia (or Apulia) Province, Lecce, which is famous for its Baroque architecture, and looks real pretty. Italians call Lecce the "Florence of the South," as Florence also has a stack of amazing Baroque-era architecture, amongst its many Renaissance and other jewels.
We found a park close to one edge of the storico centro and headed in. It was siesta time, and the place was dead.
Having siestas is big in this part of the world. Shops and offices close around 1 or 1.30pm, and reopen around 5-ish. I love it, especially if I can sleep too.
Ceramic balloons
One of the many beautiful churches in town
Balancing bishop
We went to the best gelateria and pasticceria, and had giant icecreams. When I was a kid, our kitchener buns never had this much cream.
Friends for life
Keeps the devil away
Sheer magnificence
Shiny cool cobblestone
Aaah, nostalgia. My first car was one of these.
Eventually we moseyed back to Monopoli, and in the eve we went out again, to get amongst it.
Negronis. Mmmmmm.
We were so late we missed all the food, and ended up in a cool bar instead.
We chatted like old friends.
More nostalgia. I used to use razor blades like these once upon a time. To actually shave with, no less.
A bee tried to sting us, but we got away
The place was pretty packed, and we were the oldest people there.
By a factor of about 3.
Trying to get my bearings
Luckily, despite the lateness of the hour, we found some pizza in a takeaway joint, served by a couple of young locals keen to practice their English. They were so friendly.
Go to Part 5
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