Sign-In
Cart
Basilicata: Authentic Italy
Paperback
Travel WritingItalyItalian History
ISBN13: 9781734832204
Publisher: Hiller Press
Published: Aug 25 2020
Pages: 238
Weight: 0.78
Height: 0.54 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Journey to the small, rocky region in the heart of the Italian south, to a land where ancient pagan rites live alongside those of the Catholic Church, world-class wine washes down edible hyacinth bulbs, zip-lines parallel old mule trails, and the air is infused with the ideals of Roman poets and brigands. Best known for the evocative cave dwellings of Matera, Basilicata packs an incredible diversity into the unassuming instep of the Italian boot. To discover what makes this region tick, the author traverses Mediterranean beaches and Alpine forests, visits medieval castles and modest homes, attends folkloric festivals and samples earthy local cuisine, uncovering Basilicata past and present, from pre-Greek to the story of emigration that continues today.
Basilicata: Authentic Italy goes off Italy's beaten tourist path and digs deep into this lesser-known Southern Italian region. With heart and humor, Karen Haid sets out to explore this fascinating land that maintains an old-world charm and authenticity into the 21st century. Highlights include a mountain community's ritualistic Marriage of Trees, an international celebration of fantastical carnival masks, the capital city's colorful Parade of the Turks, a relaxing sojourn at a classic Italian spa facility, visits to wineries, and of course, the unbridled consumption of countless culinary delicacies. Who knew that a sweet, dried pepper could bring such crunchy delight?
Basilicata: Authentic Italy examines historical context when coming upon the region's challenges. How could such a noble land, the birthplace of the likes of Horace and final resting place of Pythagoras become the 20th century's back and beyond, a place where the Fascists exiled political prisoners? What motivated the likes of Carmine Crocco, Basilicata's most famous brigand-common criminality or social revolt against the devastating consequences of Italian Unification? At times, progress has seemingly passed the region by, while at others, has wreaked havoc, such as in the case of the ghost town of Craco and big oil in Viggiano. Religion has played its part, as well, and the author encounters symbols from ancient burial objects in numerous archeological museums to the Jewish catacombs of Venosa to the extraordinary Early Christian cave paintings in the Crypt of the Original Sin to Maratea's Christ statue that rivals Rio's.
All along the way, the author's experience is enriched by the local people, and perhaps their story resounds the loudest in Matera, a place where personal integrity, cultural strength and an incredible collective resilience were brought into force to overcome past difficulty. Once considered a national shame, the Sassi di Matera are today hailed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the footsteps of international tourists in-the-know echo along its ancient stone streets. Basilicata: Authentic Italy reflects on the region past and present, as well as considers the future of a land and its people with so much to offer and an even greater potential yet to be realized. Basilicata is a corner of Italy where that elusive authentic experience sought out by today's traveler can be found. The author does so and shares the joys and challenges of the experience.
Also in
Travel Writing
Lonely Planet an Innocent Abroad: Life-Changing Trips from 35 Great Writers
Ford, Richard
Berendt, John
Eggers, Dave
Paperback
What Really Happens in Vegas: True Stories of the People Who Make Vegas, Vegas
Patterson, James
Seal, Mark
Hardcover
Mother of God: An Extraordinary Journey Into the Uncharted Tributaries of the Western Amazon
Rosolie, Paul
Paperback
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance [50th Anniversary Edition]: An Inquiry Into Values
Pirsig, Robert M.
Paperback
Travels with Charley in Search of America: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)
Steinbeck, John
Paperback
One Man's Wilderness, 50th Anniversary Edition: An Alaskan Odyssey
Proenneke, Richard Louis
Keith, Sam
Paperback
Pacific Coasting: A Guide to the Ultimate Road Trip, from Southern California to the Pacific Northwest
Kroll, Danielle
Hardcover
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World
Doerr, Anthony
Paperback
Two O'Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain: A Search for an Unconventional Life Abroad
Sula, Helene
Hardcover
House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest
Childs, Craig
Paperback
What Really Happens in Vegas: True Stories of the People Who Make Vegas, Vegas (Large Print Edition)
Seal, Mark
Patterson, James
Paperback
Round Here and Over Yonder: A Front Porch Travel Guide by Two Progressive Hillbillies (Yes, That's a Thing.)
Crowder, Trae
Forrester, Corey Ryan
Hardcover
Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-To-Zion Journey Through Every National Park
Knighton, Conor
Paperback
Following Caesar: From Rome to Constantinople, the Pathways That Planted the Seeds of Empire
Keahey, John
Hardcover
The Explorers Club: A Visual Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of Exploration
The Explorers Club
Hardcover
Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo
Santos, Beth
Paperback
Gyoza: The Ultimate Dumpling Cookbook: 50 Recipes from Tokyo's Gyoza King - Pot Stickers, Dumplings, Spring Rolls and More!
Yamamoto, Paradise
Hardcover
Island Wisdom: Hawaiian Traditions and Practices for a Meaningful Life
Daly, Annie
Daines, Kainoa
Hardcover
The Secret Knowledge of Water: Discovering the Essence of the American Desert
Childs, Craig
Paperback
How to Read Nature: Awaken Your Senses to the Outdoors You've Never Noticed
Gooley, Tristan
Hardcover
A Long Tangent: Musings by an old man & his young dog hiking every day for a year
Fayhee, M. John
Paperback
Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier
Adams, Mark
Paperback
To the Ends of the Earth: How Ancient Conquerors, Explorers, Scientists, and Traders Connected the World
Schulz, Raimund J.
Savage, Robert
Hardcover
A Course Called Ireland: A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint, and the Next Tee
Coyne, Tom
Paperback
The Heartbeat of the Wild: Dispatches from Landscapes of Wonder, Peril, and Hope
Quammen, David
Hardcover
Hidden Japan: An Astonishing World of Thatched Villages, Ancient Shrines and Primeval Forests
Kerr, Alex
Paperback
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
Weiner, Eric
Paperback
East Coasting: The Ultimate Roadtripper's Guide to New England
Dorazewski, Monica
Chitnis, Christine
Hardcover
Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country: Traveling Through the Land of My Ancestors
Erdrich, Louise
Paperback
The Devil's Cup: A History of the World According to Coffee: A History of the World According to Coffee
Allen, Stewart Lee
Paperback
Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel /]crolf Potts
Potts, Rolf
Paperback
El Peregrino (Edición Conmemorativa 35 Aniversario) / The Pilgrimage 35th Anniv Ersary Commemorative Edition
Coelho, Paulo
Paperback
Sea of Cortez: A Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research
Ricketts, Edward F.
Steinbeck, John
Paperback
Very Charleston: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Lowcountry Charm
Gessler, Diana Hollingsworth
Hardcover
The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
Russell, Helen
Paperback
The Japanese Sake Bible: Everything You Need to Know about Great Sake (with Tasting Notes and Scores for Over 100 Top Brands)
Ashcraft, Brian
Eguchi, Takashi
Paperback
The Nomadic Notebook - Norway: True short stories of travel adventures and encounters
Purdy, Daniel
Paperback
The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia
Booth, Michael
Paperback
Pocket Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Not Visited and Never Will
Schalansky, Judith
Hardcover
Oh, Florida!: How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country
Pittman, Craig
Paperback
In Search of Perfumes: A Lifetime Journey to the Source of Nature's Scents
Roques, Dominique
Hardcover
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West
Wickenden, Dorothy
Paperback
One Man's Wilderness, 50th Anniversary Edition: An Alaskan Odyssey
Keith, Sam
Proenneke, Richard Louis
Hardcover