The end of March was the perfect season for our last field trip to Southern Italy where we made stops in Matera, Alberobello, Herculaneum and Napoli. With beautiful weather accommodating what was possibly my favorite field trip, many of us saw sights that we would never forget.
Matera was by far one of the most magical cities I have been to. It is a city that is populated largely by people living in residential cave dwellings, constructed directly into the side of a mountain. Rather than pinpointing specific landmarks to visit, we took a leisurely stroll through the city center and appreciated the phenomenal view of the town and the ocean. What I loved most about Matera was its seclusion from the rest of the world. The town was empty of tourists and preserved the magical feel of a fairytale village tucked away in the mountains.
Our next stop Alberobello was an entirely different mystical world. With only 10,700 inhabitants, the town was famous for its trulli buildings that had these almost witchcraft-looking symbols painted on its cone-shaped roofs. The design of these buildings can be traced back to the early 16th century when there was an abundance of chalky sedimentary material available in the area. As a result this led to the construction of houses with dry stone instead of mortar. Although our visit to Alberobello was only a few hours long, the beauty of the city still remain fresh in our minds.
Afterwards we departed for Napoli, but not before making a stop in Hercalaneum first. Herculaneum was a place that was destroyed like Pompeii from the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. The majority of its structures were surprisingly well preserved. In some cases, we could even see the original wood beams and shutters and admire the brilliant construction techniques practiced centuries ago.
Heading back towards Napoli, I was ready to eat the best pizza of my life, and I did indeed. Naples was busy and dirty but lively and vibrant at the same time. Our tour consisted of a walk along Via San Gregorio Armeno where we saw many stores lined up with Christmas nativity items displayed outside. As a fan of handcrafted items, I felt deeply absorbed into the richness of the culture. Our trip ended at the habor front, where I could enjoy sounds of the ocean for the first time since I left home. After a jam-packed day of events, the ocean was the perfect remedy for my exhaustion.
As we waved goodbye to the south and hopped back onto the bus to Rome, we mentally prepared ourselves for the biggest and most stimulating adventure yet: Final Review. Wish us luck in the challenge that is yet to come.
(All photos credit to Maddy Eggers)