The Sun Sets on 2009

Goodbye 2009! You were a good year and I will have fond memories of you! Thanks for all you offered me, my family and friends!

Mystery Revealed, 6

Yesterday's "mystery photo" showed a detail of this antique plow, which is on display at the entry to the Pirro Agriturismo.
At least, I think it's a plow... Well, plow is my best guess!

Here's the whole thing. What do you say? Is it a plow?

Mystery Photo, 6

Every once in a while, I like to play "Mystery Photo." This photo was taken at the Pirro Agriturismo and shows a detail of something larger. Take a guess, what do you think it is?

Pirro Agriturismo, 3

Red hot chili peppers drying in the barn rafters.

Pirro Agriturismo, 2

Here are some views of the agriturismo and the landscape that surrounds it.


This area is known as the Tavoliere delle Puglie.


It is located north of Molfetta near Foggia.

A "tavoliere" is a large, flat area of plains. The Tavoliere delle Puglie is the second largest plain in Italy and is a fertile agricultural region.

The Pirro Agriturismo is located just outside the historical town of Troia.

Pirro Agriturismo

The Pirro family runs an "agriturismo," or restaurant/inn, on their farm. My family and I spent the 24th and 25th there with my husband's family. There are 16 of us in the immediate family, plus the Pirro's as they are extended family of ours. Let me explain the relationship...so, my husband's sister's husband's sister married Ponziano Pirro (did you get that?) and his sons now run the farm/agriturismo.

Buon Natale

Buon Natale a tutti!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Merry Christmas from Molfetta

Buon Natale a tutti!

Osteria

This small restaurant is located in the historical centre of town on Via Piazza. I took this photo through the glass of the front door. What you see is what you get, the photo shows the entire establishment and its four tables.

Duomo

This is one of the twin towers on Molfetta's Duomo (or cathedral) taken from the rear of the church. The church is in the old town and the streets are so narrow that the wall of the building I was backed up against to take this shot has snuck into the photo.

Renault 4

An old car is parked on an even older street, Via Mammone, in Molfetta's historical center.

A "mammone" is a mommy's boy or also a sort of mythical monster. Not sure what they had in mind when they named the street...

City Hall

Detail of the entryway into the Town Council chambers in Piazza Municipio, in the old town.

Lean on Me

...when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

(lyrics by Bill Withers)

photo taken in Molfetta's historic center

Stone Carving

This face is carved on the rear wall of the Duomo, Molfetta's first cathedral, built in the 1100s.

Molfettans of Note

The walls of the City Hall Board Room are lined with portraits of important men from Molfetta's past. Above we can see His Excellency Lieutenant General Gaetano Pastore, 1778-1849.
Here we have General Giuseppe Eugenio Poli, 1898-1967.

This fellow is another member of the Poli family, local nobility. He seems to have been a scholar of Italian and Foreign literature in the 1800s.

Book Signing

Molfettan artist Vittoria Facchini signs copies of her book "La Santa Allegrezza" after it was presented at City Hall last Saturday evening. Facchini is a successful writer and illustrator of children's books and advertising campaigns and she has designed a line of household objects decorated with her art. Her work has won international awards.

Santa Allegrezza

The "Santa Allegrezza" is the traditional Molfettan Christmas song. A series of events has been planned around the song this weekend. Last night an illustrated book of the song's lyrics was presented at city hall, followed by an exhibit of the original paintings, by local artist Vittoria Facchini, in the old town.

This video is of terrible quality, but at least you can hear the song...

Monthly Theme Day: Waiting

Waiting for the storm...

The first day of each month is Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community. This month's theme is "Waiting." Click here to view thumbnails for all participants