Visiting Altilia

With the weather as it was during the months of November and December in Italy the bel ragazzo and I could not be so fussy about our touring around.

Here is a photo of Malito when it was hit by the heavy rain. The photo is not so clear as we were in the car but you can see that the main entrance into Malito was covered with debris from an exploded pipe in a steam above the village and the wind had knocked the sign posts down.





Bel ragazzo and his brother had to chain saw a massive tree which somehow the gale force winds had managed to knock down blocking one of the roads.



At least then the shepherd could safely pass with his flocks.



So with these weather conditions our site seeing was in the hands of mother nature. She did not often stop the rain but when she did we would quickly dash out of the house. On one such day, with the overcast skies letting us know it would be rain free for about one hour, I asked bel ragazzo to take me to a little town about 10 minutes drive from Malito called Altilia. Now I am not saying that Altilia is up there on the list of places to visit in Calabria and everyone did keep asking us why on earth we were going there...but I like little villages even if there is nothing that special about them. I have to remind people I come from a relatively brand new country - Australia so I love anything and all things old!

The first time I went to Altilia was 2 years ago during my first visit to Malito. Bel ragazzo and I spent our first New Years Eve together at the old convent in Altilia which was converted into a disco of sorts. Along with 700 odd people we danced the night away. This year we also went back to Altilia but with the lack of heating in the upper levels of the convent, and the amount of children I saw down stairs I think this is the last time I will be spending my New Years Eve there.

Here are some photos of the village.