Day 20, April 21th: Today’s adventure included the Punta Penna Grossa Nature Preserve on the Adriatic Sea, Civita in the Pollino National Park, and Pizzo on the Tyrrhenian Sea.It has a gorgeous beach on in Punta Penna Grossa, just north of Brindisi and there were sunny skies on the Adriatic today!
Hugh olive trees are literally everywhere in Puglia. The trunk on this one was over six feet across, probably 18 feet in circumference.
Civita is a town of about 1,000 residents. It was originally settled in the late 1400’s by Albanian explorers and the town now retains that language and culture.
The town’s Italian-Albanian Mother Church dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. Its parishioners follow the Byzantine rite as part of the Eparchy of Lungro, an Italo-Albanian diocese in Calabria, subject to the Holy See. The Baroque structure features many elements of the Byzantine church, such as the beautiful iconostasis in walnut and olivewood, numerous icons and frescos. There many stunning mosaics.
Civita is known for its’ homes having distinctive chimneys. Check out the three different designs. Each home’s chimney design is different.
Take in the view of the valley below Civita in the Pollino National Park.
Just outside of Pizzo is Chiesetta Di Piedigrotta, which is a seaside church with caves dug by 19th- & 20th-century sculptors, with elaborately carved figures. The church is dedicated to Madonna. Check out: https://www.chiesadipiedigrotta.it/
Zoom in to see the sculptures up close. The multi room cave is filled with religious sculptures.
There are gorgeous views of the Ionian Sea from the church.
We took in the sunset from historic Pizzo!
By the water is Castle Murat, its claim to fame is that he was the most famous brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte. Calabria was his last earthly home, as he was captured in Pizzo Calabro and then shot by Bourbon soldiers. See:https://www.corecalabro.com/…/joachim-murat-lultimo…/
We had burgers at a street-side cafe to cap the day.