Time change...

We changed our clocks this week and have had some spectacular sunrises recently. One of the advantages of mountain living.

Basilicata Antipasto

Now this is what you call an antipasto from Basilicata:  Aglianico wine and tasty peperoni cruschi!

Towns of Basilicata: Guardia Perticara

Once you arrive by the winding mountain roads you will quickly be charmed by the stone walls of Guardia Perticara. Montano, Leudisio, Vomero, Grezzi, Carcia, Santa Lucia, Lavella are some of the family names originating from Guardia Perticara.

Towns of Basilicata: Aliano

You will find a charming town settled amongst an interesting landscape in Aliano, the final resting place of Carlo Levi. You will find these family names originating from Aliano: Scelzi, Pepe, Serra, Marino, Pisani, Grimaldi, Mattetelli.

Towns of Basilicata: Vietri di Potenza

Along the route between Salerno and Potenza you will easily see Vietri di Potenza occupying a will among the mountains of Basilicata. Vince Lombardi's family originated from this town and you will find these other family names here: Pitta, Pascaretta, Macellaro, Fabio, Gorga, Zirpoli, Faruolo

Siberian blast

Most people have a vision of southern Italy as sunny and warm all year. Though we may be less than 100 miles from the three coasts we are in the mountains at 2500 ft. This means it can be cold in the winter, but snow is infrequent. This January has been different so far. A blast of cold and snow has moved across the Adriatic Sea and settled over Italy, what the Italian news agency ANSA is calling the worst in 20 years. They are dubbing it the "Epiphany Blizzard".