{"id":13384,"date":"2018-08-25T17:49:25","date_gmt":"2018-08-25T17:49:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=13384"},"modified":"2019-05-28T07:30:21","modified_gmt":"2019-05-27T21:30:21","slug":"valle-ditria-italy-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=13384","title":{"rendered":"Valle d\u2019Itria, Italy 2018 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date:  23-24th August 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelled:  Around Cisternino, Italy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visited:  Cisternino, Alberobello, Grotte di Castellana, Locorotondo, Martina Franka all in Puglia.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stayed:  Cisternino municipal sosta, free with services.  N40.74423, E17.42740<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget:  82 days @ \u20ac99 per day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After our late move to Cisternino yesterday evening we enjoyed a good sleep other than 10 minutes of load music at 2.30am, such are the joys of wildcamping in a free sosta.  Whilst we look over the road atlas and the Lonely Planet this morning we decide Cisiternino will make a good base for a few days.  This area of Puglia is known as the Valle d\u2019Itria.  Set between the Adriatic and Ionian coasts the Valle is a great limestone plateau riddled with ridges, holes and ravines.  It is also trulli country, a trulli is the traditional circular stone house with a cone shaped roof also made of stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guide recommends a visit to the four larger towns, Cisternino, Alberobello, Locorontondo and Martina Franka.  It states the cave at Grotte di Catellana are worth visiting if you are in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

So we start our first adventure on the hill above the sosta in Cisternino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
At the top of the hill a small park circles a war memorial. The Church of Santa Nicholas of Patara in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
The view from the park across the valley, note the many trulli houses below.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Michael and Pam's Photo Sphere (Cisternino Pano)<\/a>
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Inside the church, the main alter and choir is simple but elegant.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
A small chapel off one side of the naive. The painted panels depicting saint whoever getting the chop, stare down at you.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The maze of laneways…<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The covered walkways…<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The whitewashed houses…<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Walked over to chat to these guys saying we are from Australia, they laughed saying we\u2019d rather have Sylvio Berlusconi than Malcolm !<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We found the old centro of Cisternino one of the most beautiful we have seen to date.  Anyway we get the Hymer going for Alberobello (20 klms away) and our next hill top town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
On the SS172 in trulli country.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We arrive in Alberobello to find it only has one dedicated motorhome parking place a sosta for \u20ac10 for 24 hours, but as we only plan a couple of hours it\u2019s a bit rich for our blood.  So we drive over to the industrial area, park for free and walk back the 3-400 metres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
There are some 1,500 trulli houses in the old quarter of Alberobello and it\u2019s a wonderful place to explore.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
We visit a small museum, just to have a look at how all these circular building come together.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
This is how if your wondering.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Michael and Pam's Photo Sphere (Alberobello\u2019s Trulli Pano)<\/a>
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
On the corner of a small piazza overlooking the trulli houses.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n