History of the Grotte di Castellana The Grotte di Castellana is a series of caves in the Itria Valley that began to form over 90 million years ago. During the Cretaceous period, the valley was submerged by an ancient sea. For millions of years the lifeforms (shellfish and marine plants) left their carcasses on the…
Category: Go Ahead Tours
Italy: Alberobello
The Road to Alberobello After leaving Ostuni, we made our way to our next stop on our tour of Italy, Alberbello. As we drove down highway, we began to see cylindrical structures with conical roofs doting the hillsides. These structures are called trulli’s and they are defining landmarks of Alberobello. Alberobello’s history is a tale…
Italy: Ostuni
Ostuni is a hilltop city that was believed to have been established by the Messappi people. In the 8th century BC, the Messappi started to build the first fortified towns in the region. These city was eventually attacked and defeated by Hannibal during the Punic Wars. Around 216 BC, the region was conquered by the…
Italy: Lecce and Otranto
Lecce is a southern Italian city that was founded over 2000 years ago by the Messapii people. The city’s main export is a very soft and malleable stone, which is traditionally used to carve sculptures. The city is also known for its olive oil, wine and ceramic production. The city landscape displays a plethora of…
Italy: Palignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare is a small seaside located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It is perched atop a 20 meter-high limestone cliff. The origin of the city dates back to the 4th century BC when Greek settlers founded the Neapolis. This trip was not on our GoAhead itinerary. This was a special stop…
Bari: A Castle, the Old Town, Pasta, a Basilica and a Promenade
Bari is the capital city of the Apulia region. It is on the coastline of the Adriatic Sea. It is known as a port and university city and the city of Saint Nicholas. Bari is also known for it seafood, its handmade pasta, and its notable wines, which includes a delicious primitivo. This very well…
Italy: Barletta
After our morning exploring Monte Sant’Angelo and Gargano, we made our way back to coastal city of Barletta. The City Barletta is located on the Adriatic with a very long, sandy coast stretching to both the east and the west. Along the coast, there are various attractive beaches with trees to the west. The main…
Italy: Exploring Gargano
Surrounding the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo is a beautiful hilltop town. Walking the Old Town As you walk around the old town, you are surrounded by private homes, churches and wonderful eateries. You really get the sense that in this well maintained enclave, the people who live here are very aware of living a charmingly…
Italy: Monte Sant’Angelo
The Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo is located on Gargano, Italy. It is the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the archangel Michael. The Legend of the Sanctuary at Monte Sant’Angelo Legend has it that in 490 AD a farmer lost a fine bull. He search all over for his bull. He climbed the mountain…
Italy: Benevento
Italian Countryside Traveling around the Italian countryside is one thing that I would recommend doing if finances permit. For this trip, we were driven around the countryside by a private coach bus driven by a really nice Italian man named Pasquale. This was surprisingly was very comfortable and it allowed me to see and photograph…
Savory Sweet Neat 