The Cult of Padre Pio
by hquittner
Matera, although the capitol of Basilicata, is historically Pugliese. They would know the church of San Giovanni Rotundo (on the Gargano Peninsula) which is only 200 km from Matera.It is there that the recently beatified Franciscan monk (d.1969)is buried and it is where he worked "mracles" and drew thousands of pilgrims. It is not surprising that the deeply religious Materans would have been drawn to this corner of the park containing the Fontana Ferdinandea where a statue of the Padre has recently been erected. Their reverence is manifested by the daily floral depositions and praying persons. (It is noon and raining hard)
Matera, fate or coincidence
by sundancekid
"Matera, it's whole history at one view"
Fate or coincidence, where's the difference. At least things started bad but had a worthy ending.
The reason we got therewas my throathache. It came over me in the nighttrain between Rome and Brindisi were we had to take a ferry to Greece. When I woke up I had problems with breeding and high fever. Went to a hospital. It took 5 hours for diagnostics and 10 minutes to give me a huge injection with antibiotics, remember the huge glass and metal syringes which can be re-used?? That's the one!!
When we wanted to leave, one of the nurses warned us not to get onto the train directly but to take a look in the centrum and the old town. That's what we did. They told us that Matera is the second oldest inhabited city on our lively planet. There was a panorama point with view over the valley. On the other side of the valley, caves or man made holes were visible where the first settlers lived, that must have been a long time ago ;-)
The closer to the panorama point, the newr things got. On the far side there were medival houses caved into the rock, the central rockpeak was hollowed and got a function as a church, which should contain Byzantine frescos. Nearer there were houses built against the rock (people got more lazy in later ages). And on top of the hill the modern village began, an amazing sight!!
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casa grotta
Castello Tramontano
sasso caveoso
sassi
