This was another day to visit another UNESCO World Heritage site – Castel del Monte. This castle was built in 1240 by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia (who ever heard of Swabia?). In 1266, it was repurposed from a normal castle to use for military needs and even a place of detention for illustrious prisoners.
Sadly, after being looted multiple times since it was abandoned in the 17th century, many of the marble appointments, mosaic floors, and sculptural details no longer exist. In the arches around the main door, you can see the marble details. In 1876 the Italian State acquired the castle and it was declared a World Heritage site in 1996. Its octagonal shape is repeated throughout the entire structure, a sign of perfection. There are eight rooms on each of the two floors and the interior courtyard is also in an octagonal shape, based on an ancient crown design. The remnants of the splendor in the castle are visible in the marble columns, but not much elsewhere. When built, it was equipped with amenities unique to the times, including plumbing, bathrooms with a sink and latrine, ventilation systems, and fireplaces.






Time to head into Bari, one of the larger cities in Puglia. We wandered around to find a good place to have lunch and finally found a restaurant that had a lot of US-like foods. So, for a change, we had a pulled-pork sandwich and some of the best fries we have ever had. Okay, we are in Italy, not in the US, but it was a nice change from the typical Puglia cuisine.


By the way, the name of this area in the “heel” of Italy has been called Puglia and Apuglia. We were wondering which was correct and found that either is acceptable. Italians may call it Puglia (silent g), while English-speaking people may refer to it as Apuglia. Culturally, Puglia is steeped in history, with influences from the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Normans, among others. This diverse heritage is reflected in Puglia’s architecture, archaeological sites, and traditions, providing a rich tapestry of experiences for visitors and locals alike.
Time to move on to Matera, an incredible ancient city that has been occupied since the 8th century BC. The oldest part of Matera is called the Sassi, which consists of approximately twelve levels spanning the height of 380 m, connected by a network of paths, stairways, and courtyards. There are streets where buses and cars drive, but also original “roads” that probably were used by horses or donkeys. As the cobblestone roads wend their way down from higher areas, they consist of a step, about two meters of angled downward slippery stones, then more steps. Jim fell on the stones and was scared that he may have damaged his artificial knee. His right leg bent back under him. As uncomfortable as it was, he continued to walk for the balance of the trip. (He went to the orthopedist once we were home and found out that he tore a muscle just above his right knee. He wore a brace from mid thigh to mid calf for two weeks and then slowly was able to bend the leg. Fortunately, he was in pretty good shape before the fall. It looks like he will be okay.)



We drove a short distance to Martina Franca, a very charming town that is captivating. As you enter the town, you see an amazing sculpture of hands that have beautiful meanings. Once you know this, the hands give you a sense of peace and hope. The area near this city center is filled with locals who catch up on the town gossip and laugh as they enjoy each other’s company. I felt that I could spend much more time here, given the proximity to other towns and the beautiful scenery. The typical arch entry leads you to beautiful streets and a city center fountain that is another meet and greet destination. One thing we did see was a woman covered in tattoos and lots of piercings. One thing we experienced was that tattoos were everywhere, and some all over the body. It was difficult to see them, when you consider the discomfort of having needles putting dyes into your skin! Yikes! Some were colorful, some mainly black, but I always wonder how they will fair as the body changes and parts drop! This is just my silly bias speaking…






It was time to go to Otranto, our base for the next couple of days. The entrance to the town, a five minute walk from our hotel, welcomed us with an arch that beckoned us to enter. As you go through the arch, the narrow streets open to a variety of shops and restaurants. Otranto is right on the water, on the Mediterranean side of Puglia. One restaurant, right at the entrance to the town, had a long line to get in. We decided to go the next night, early, to see what the fuss was about.



We went to what could be described as a cafeteria fast food restaurant for lunch. They had a variety of tasty options to try. And, surprisingly, it was pretty good. Afterward, we wandered toward the beach on the Mediterranean side of Puglia. It wasn’t crowded and the water was crystal clear. The gentle waves were very inviting, but not for us at this time.



We returned to our hotel for a little rest and enjoyed visiting the beautiful swimming pool at our hotel. It was a nice change to relax and not be going from one place to another.

Dinner was at a small, lovely restaurant, where we enjoyed orecchiette (shaped like an ear) with meatballs, a typical pasta in Puglia, and a Caprese salad. We found that Caprese salads differed in various parts of Italy. The best one so far was in Sicily, because the tomatoes were large, vine-ripened, juicy, and delicious. The tomatoes in Puglia were a tad larger than typical cherry tomatoes and the fresh mozzarella was served in small balls, instead of slices. Of course, we loved it all anyway. The sauce, salad, and the service were excellent. By the way, the stalls with sweets were everywhere, colorful and filled with varieties that we couldn’t identify.


After dinner, it was getting dark and Otranto became a very different town. It came alive with lights, children, and music. We were entranced and were pleased that we decided to stay after dark.
Candy stands are everywhere and they have so many varieties. The shops are unique, but one captivated me with a dress that I had never seen before. I had to take a picture. And, finally, sunset in Otranto was beautiful.




Tomorrow, we head to Gallipoli, another seaside town not too far away. Then we head to Lecce, a stunning town for our final night before our trek home to Mexico.