DSC03058.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Matera Cattedrale on the Piazza Duomo.
DSC02823.JPG=Italy, highway south from Reggio di Calabria
DSC02988.JPG=Our train trip from Bari to "The caves of Matera" for the day started when we locked our bikes up beside the Polizia Municipale Bari station house
DSC03149.JPG=Bari, Italy - Castello Normanna Svevo (c.1131) in the old town area of Citta Vecchia.
DSC03015.JPG=Matera old town Piazza Veneto - Chiesa Santo Spirito
DSC03144.JPG=Bari, Italy - Castello Normanna Svevo courtyard in the old town area of Citta Vecchia.
ItalyTravelsFinal.jpg=The path of our final week in Italy through the south, before boarding a ferry to Greece
DSC03066.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Chiesa San Francesco d'Assisi
DSC03037.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Chiesa S. Agostino  perched above the deep la Gravina gorge.
DSC03020.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the deep la Gravina gorge of some of the now abandoned prehistoric caves
DSC03009.JPG=Matera old town Piazza Veneto - Chiesa San Francesco da Paola
PlasterCasts.jpg=Bari, Italy - Castello Normanna Svevo. 3 of the large rooms were devoted to a museum of plaster casts taken of some of the best of stone work from around southern Italy (Puglia, Basilicata etc)
DSC02845.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Professional netters fishing in the morning.
DSC03056.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view down to the Sassi from the Piazza Duomo.
DSC02945.JPG=Italy, Metaponto near our motorhome stopover. This pony wanders around like a "street kid" - but lives at the M/H park
DSC03150.JPG=Bari, Italy - Castello Normanna Svevo with its' unusual external wall angles.
DSC03055.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the Sassi from the Piazza Duomo.
DSC03062.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Piazza Sedile
DSC02882.JPG=Cropani Marina, on the toe of Italy. Olive trees and wildflowers welcoming spring
DSC02926.JPG=Holiday park on the beach at Corigliano Calabro - the Gulf of Taranto.
DSC03068.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Chiesa San Francesco d'Assisi
DSC02957.JPG=Italy, poster of ancient pottery firing (4th to 6th century BC) at Metaponto museum of Greek artefacts
DSC02954.JPG=Italy, 4th to 6th century BC pottery at Metaponto museum of Greek artefacts
DSC03003.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view of some of the caves where the caves from pre-history had a stone frontage added
DSC02959.JPG=Italy,  Metaponto museum of Greek ruins of ancient necropolis
DSC03054.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the Sassi from the Piazza Duomo.
DSC02937.JPG=The highway approaching Metaponto
DSC02964.JPG=Italy,  Metaponto Temple of Hera
DSC03060.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the Sassi from near the Piazza Duomo.
DSC03034.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the deep la Gravina gorge of some of the now abandoned prehistoric caves
DSC03040.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - cliff above the deep la Gravina gorge.\
					
DSC02887.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Many wild flowers appearing amongst the olive trees for Spring
DSC02841.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Professional netters fishing in the morning.
DSC02852.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Professional netters fishing in the morning, right at the beach.
P1.JPG=Italy, hilltop village on the coastal highway south from Reggio di Calabria (panorama)
DSC02932.JPG=The highway approaching Metaponto
DSC02807.JPG=Approaching Messina harbour, Sicily
DSC02889.JPG=Nice new homes in Cropani Marina.
DSC02951.JPG=Italy, 4th to 6th century BC pottery at Metaponto museum of Greek artefacts
DSC02831.JPG=Italy, coastal highway south from Reggio di Calabria
DSC02848.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Professional netters fishing in the morning.
DSC02990.JPG=We didn't see anyone using these track control levers but were surprised to see them on the platform outside
DSC02871.JPG=Italy, coastal highway south from Reggio di Calabria
DSC02864.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Many wild flowers appearing for Spring
DSC02976.JPG=Puglia, Italy - driving from Metaponto to Bari. Rock walls and other old farm buildings.
DSC03032.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view of some of the cave-filled cliffs with stone frontage
DSC02974.JPG=Puglia, Italy - driving from Metaponto to Bari. Rock walls and other old farm buildings.
DSC02923.JPG=Holiday park on the beach at Corigliano Calabro - the Gulf of Taranto. The beach bar is still pretty deserted. We don't know how they survive because some of these places only operate June/July/August.
StreetScenes2.jpg=Bari, Italy - Street scenes in the old town area of Citta Vecchia.
DSC02936.JPG=The highway approaching Metaponto
DSC02980.JPG=Puglia, Italy - Bari Central railway station. Puntotel phone booth
DSC02816.JPG=A hydrofoil crossing
DSC03049.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - many more steps for us to climb above the deep la Gravina gorge
Panorama 13.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - one of the original caves as it would have been. Quite a rugged way to live even in the 1960's with no running water or electricity (panorama)
DSC02828.JPG=Italy, hilltop village on the coastal highway south from Reggio di Calabria
DSC03007.JPG=Matera old town Palazzo Veneto
DSC02813.JPG=The ferry arriving at Messina harbour, Sicily
StreetScenes1.jpg=Bari, Italy - The old town area of Citta Vecchia with the Cattedrale on the right
Panorama 1.JPG=Holiday park on the beach at Corigliano Calabro - the Gulf of Taranto
DSC02860.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Many wild flowers appearing for Spring
PinkAlmondTrees.jpg=The highway approaching Metaponto. Hard to see in the individual pics, but there are many different shades of pink in the flowering almond trees.
DSC03114.JPG=Bari, Italy - Castello Normanna Svevo (c.1131) in the old town area of Citta Vecchia.
Panorama 01.JPG=Bari, Italy - the Porto Vecchio (panorama)
DSC03109.JPG=Bari, Italy - Street scenes in the old town area of Citta Vecchia.
DSC02872.JPG=Near Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Mountains in the distance and many wild flowers appearing for Spring
DSC02977.JPG=Puglia, Italy - driving from Metaponto to Bari. Rock walls and other old farm buildings.
DSC03091.JPG=Bari, Italy - the Porto Vecchio defensive walls
DSC03093.JPG=Bari, Italy - the Porto Vecchio. Our bicycles have been invaluable to us. We quite easily ride 5-10km each way when we are in a town like Bari; pretty flat and with some good cycle paths.
DSC02885.JPG=Cropani Marina, on the toe of Italy. Olive trees and wildflowers welcoming spring
DSC02874.JPG=Highway approaching Cropani Marina, on the toe of Italy.
DSC02961.JPG=Italy,  Metaponto museum grounds - just like our wattle tree
DSC02800.JPG=Approaching Messina harbour, Sicily
DSC02927.JPG=Holiday park on the beach at Corigliano Calabro - the Gulf of Taranto. We haven't met any Aussies for a while now.
Vases.jpg=Italy, ornately decorated urns at Metaponto museum of Greek artefacts
DSC02989.JPG=The Bari to Matera train is a rail motor service run by a private company F.A.L.
DSC02901.JPG=A bit like our larger Skink but with the different green body
DSC03047.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the deep la Gravina gorge of some of the now abandoned prehistoric caves
DSC03082.JPG=Bari, Italy - the Banca d'Italiai on Corso Cavour near the port
DSC03024.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view of some of the cave-filled cliffs with stone frontage and many steps to negotiate.
DSC02918.JPG=One of a few different groups of "Highway girls" on the approach to Corigliano Calabro. We have seen them before, looking for business in Spain and France near busy trucking areas - we might leave you to ponder why.
DSC02900.JPG=Some old grape vines
DSC03017.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view of some of the cave-filled cliffs with stone frontage and many steps to negotiate.
DSC02999.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view of some of the cave-filled cliffs
DSC03041.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy -  la Gravina gorge.
DSC02978.JPG=Puglia, Italy - driving from Metaponto to Bari. The olive groves and almond tree plantations have surrounding walls made from rocks. Very much like parts of Cornwall
DSC02944.JPG=Italy, Metaponto near our motorhome stopover. This pony wanders around like a "street kid" - but lives at the M/H park
DSC03048.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the deep la Gravina gorge of some of the now abandoned prehistoric caves
DSC02916.JPG=Approaching Corigliano Calabro (Italy) - even have snow capped mountains in the very south of Italy
DSC03090.JPG=Bari, Italy - fishermen working at the Porto Vecchio
DSC02826.JPG=Italy, coastal highway south from Reggio di Calabria
DSC03021.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - one of the original caves as it would have been. Quite a rugged way to live even in the 1960's with no running water or electricity
DSC02938.JPG=The highway approaching Metaponto
DSC02898.JPG=The popular Piaggio again, on the approach to Corigliano Calabro (Italy)
DSC03053.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - wall plaques referring to the UNESCO listing at the Piazza Duomo.\
					
DSC02804.JPG=Approaching busy Messina harbour, Sicily
DSC02877.JPG=Highway approaching Cropani Marina, on the toe of Italy. A tight squeeze with the constant double parking etc - and this is one of the wide roads.
DSC02969.JPG=Italy,  Metaponto almond trees under their green house covers near the Temple of Hera
Panorama 9.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the Sassi from the Piazza Duomo. (panorama)
DSC02797.JPG=Approaching Messina, Sicily with the mainland in view
DSC02920.JPG=Holiday park on the beach at Corigliano Calabro - the Gulf of Taranto. We were even able to wear shorts but the water was pretty cold.
DSC02987.JPG=Puglia, Italy - Bari Central railway station\
					
DSC03132.JPG=Bari, Italy - Castello Normanna Svevo. The plaster casts were typically from churches and were of the decorative portals, capitals, windows, architraves and of course some of the "Griffins" that we see on each side of this wall.
DSC02861.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Many wild flowers appearing for Spring
DSC02910.JPG=Approaching Corigliano Calabro (Italy) - even have snow capped mountains in the very south of Italy
DSC02955.JPG=Italy, Metaponto museum of Greek artefacts
DSC03014.JPG=Matera old town Piazza Veneto - cave area beneath Chiesa Santo Spirito
Panorama 03.JPG=Bari, Italy - Cattedrale in the old town area of Citta Vecchia. (panorama)
DSC02838.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Another abandoned building that looked pretty servicable
U1.JPG=Puglia, Italy - Bari University (panorama)
DSC02884.JPG=Nice new homes in Cropani Marina.
DSC03072.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Chiesa del Purgatorio. Skull and skeleton carvings in the stone
DSC03077.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Matera Cattedrale\
					
DSC02815.JPG=One of the trucks parked beside us on the ferry with a picture of their revered Saint Padre Pio
University.jpg=Puglia, Italy - Bari University (panorama)
DSC02956.JPG=Italy, poster of ancient pottery firing (4th to 6th century BC) at Metaponto museum of Greek artefacts
DSC03145.JPG=Bari, Italy - Castello Normanna Svevo. Entry portico with the ornate vaulted archways and four columns with differently carved capitals on the tops
DSC02998.JPG=Matera, when we arrived we went down into a washroom to find that it also was also one of the "The caves of Matera"\
					
DSC02859.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Professional netters fishing in the morning. Could have watched them for hours.
DSC02802.JPG=Approaching Messina harbour, Sicily
DSC02897.JPG=Unusually wide streets on the approach to Corigliano Calabro (Italy)
DSC03025.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view of some of the cave-filled cliffs with stone frontage and many steps to negotiate. We had very tired legs at the end of the day.
DSC02817.JPG=Pharmacia vending machine on board the ferry - never seen that before
DSC02919.JPG=Holiday park on the beach at Corigliano Calabro - the Gulf of Taranto. We were even able to wear shorts but the water was pretty cold.
DSC02960.JPG=Italy,  Metaponto museum grounds - just like our wattle tree
DSC02814.JPG=Waiting for our ferry from Messina harbour, Sicily
DSC02886.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Many wild flowers appearing for Spring
DSC03035.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the deep la Gravina gorge of some of the now abandoned prehistoric caves
DSC03057.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - here's something you don't see at home. Not only did he drive up the street stairs but then he had to make a right turn. Near the Piazza Duomo.
DSC02836.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Many wild flowers appearing for Spring
Panorama 7.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the deep la Gravina gorge of some of the now abandoned prehistoric caves (panorama)
Panorama 3.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view of some of the cave-filled cliffs (panorama)
DSC03083.JPG=Bari, Italy - the Teatro Petruzzelli on Corso Cavour near the port
DSC02853.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Professional netters fishing in the morning. Not being very successful - conditions are probably too nice
Panorama 6.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the deep la Gravina gorge of some of the now abandoned prehistoric caves (panorama)
Panorama 11.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Chiesa del Purgatorio. Skull and skeleton carvings in the stone (panorama)
DSC02948.JPG=Italy, ornately decorated urns at Metaponto museum of Greek artefacts
DSC02888.JPG=Main street Cropani Marina.
DSC02881.JPG=Highway approaching Cropani Marina, on the toe of Italy.
DSC02958.JPG=Italy,  Metaponto museum of Greek ruins of ancient necropolis
DSC02870.JPG=Highway approaching Cropani Marina, on the toe of Italy.
Panorama 5.JPG=Matera old town Piazza Veneto - Chiesa San Francesco da Paola
DSC03112.JPG=Bari, Italy - Cattedrale in the old town area of Citta Vecchia.
DSC02963.JPG=Italy,  Metaponto museum grounds
DSC02840.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Beach fishing in the morning and in the hazy distance, Mt Etna again
DSC02829.JPG=Some of the Italian nibblies are easy to get used to. Lovely olives, pesto, chestnuts and Bufala Mozzarella cheeses (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozzarella)
DSC03136.JPG=Bari, Italy - Castello Normanna Svevo. One of the plaster casts display rooms
DSC03033.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view across the deep la Gravina gorge of some of the now abandoned prehistoric caves
DSC02879.JPG=Highway approaching Cropani Marina, on the toe of Italy. Not a great business name in the English speaking world
DSC02962.JPG=Italy,  Metaponto museum grounds
DSC02830.JPG=Italy, the same village at night.
DSC03070.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Chiesa del Purgatorio. Skull and skeleton carvings in the stone
DSC03026.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - one of the caves undergoing some pretty slow "renovation". Approval for renovations might be difficult in an area that is a UNESCO listed as a national treasure?
Panorama 04.JPG=Bari, Italy - Piazza in the old town area of Citta Vecchia with the Cattedrale on the right (panorama)
DSC02858.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Professional netters fishing in the morning. Lovely calm Ionian sea
DSC02939.JPG=The highway approaching Metaponto
DSC02856.JPG=Bova Marina, on the toe of Italy. Professional netters fishing in the morning.
DSC02873.JPG=Highway approaching Cropani Marina, on the toe of Italy, with the ever present  Piaggio.
DSC03092.JPG=Bari, Italy - the Porto Vecchio looking toward the cruise boat terminals\
					
DSC03046.JPG=\
Matera in Basilicata, Italy - Chiesa S. Agostino  perched above the deep la Gravina gorge.
DSC03000.JPG=Matera in Basilicata, Italy - view of some of the cave-filled cliffs
