L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 www.italoamericano.com L'Italo-Americano 11 CHIARA ASSI In this third and last install- m e n t o f t h e " I t a l y ' s m o s t charming villages" series we visit six amazing small towns in Southern Italy and the Islands, v i l l a g e s t h a t a r e u n i q u e a n d quaint in different ways and that are worth visiting to experience Italy in a new, more genuine way. Castellabate, Campania. Located within the National Park of Cilento, the old town of Castellabate has been recog- n i z e d a s U N E S C O W o r l d Heritage site. Narrow streets, picturesque corners, graceful arches and stunning palaces in g r e y s t o n e c h a r a c t e r i z e t h i s quaint town and give way to b r e a t h t a k i n g v i e w s o f t h e Cilento coast. The fortress, built in 1123 to protect the pop- ulation and naval traffic from Saracens invasions, still appears s o l i d a n d i m p o s i n g . N o t f a r from it, the Basilica di Santa Maria de Giulia, with its gor- geous baroque facade, is also worth a visit. Don't miss the opportunity to try local extra virgin olive oil and sweet black figs, along with fresh pasta with l a m b r a g ù , a f a v o r i t e o f t h e region. Otranto, Puglia. This scenic walled town by the sea is fasci- nating and rich in history: its stone paved streets, its alleys leading to the sea, and its ram- parts make visitors swiflty fall in love with Otranto. The small Byzantine Basilica of S. Pietro, dating back to the 10th century, preserves precious Byzantine p a i n t i n g s a n d a m a g n i f i c e n t mosaic floor from 1088 that resembles an oriental tapestry. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e Aragonese Castle (1485-1489), encircled by a moat, will be of g r e a t i n t e r e s t f o r t h o s e w h o enjoy history and military archi- t e c t u r e . I n O t r a n t o c u l i n a r y country traditions meet those of the sea: try orecchiette with s a u c e m e a t o r s h a r p r i c o t t a cheese, octopus cooked "alla pignata" -in the typical clay pot- and spaghetti with mussels. Pietra Pertosa, Basilicata. This remote village is located at the end of a steep road, sur- r o u n d e d b y s h a r p p i n n a c l e s , s l o p i n g r o c k s a n d d r a m a t i c r i d g e s , i n s i d e t h e P a r k o f G a l l i p o l i C o g n a t o . A n c i e n t mansions with splendid portals lead to the heart of the village, the Arab quarter: here the old houses are nestled between rock walls, along side a small kas- b a h . W h i l e v i s i t i n g P i e t r a p e r t o s a t h e M o t h e r Church, on the higher side of the village, is a must-see: dedi- c a t e d t o S a n G i a c o m o Maggiore, the building is the result of many alterations since its construction in the fifteenth century, and has a unique look. The cuisine features mountain influences: the rafanata, a spicy omelette prepared with horse- radish and cheese, is a local f a v o r i t e , a l o n g w i t h r o a s t e d lamb and cured pork cold cuts. A l t o m o n t e , C a l a b r i a . A l t o m o n t e i s a v i l l a g e t h a t instantly charms with its stair- ways and alleys and the stun- n i n g C h u r c h d e l l a Consolazione, the best example o f G o t h i c - A n g e v i n a r t i n Calabria. The village castle, of Norman origin (XII century), has been expanded and restored by its various owners through- out the centuries, but has main- tained its original structure and c h a r m , a n d t o d a y h o u s e s a hotel. Wild cardoons in olive oil are a local specialty: they c a n b e b o u g h t i n o n e o f t h e many small deli stores around t o w n . H o m e m a d e p a s t a a n d meat dishes are also part of the local tradition, as are honey based desserts, inherited during t h e A r a b d o m i n a t i o n o f t h e area. C a s t e l s a r d o , S a r d i n i a . Perched on a promontory with s t u n n i n g v i e w s o f t h e s e a , Castelsardo is famous for the Casteddu quarter, a maze of narrow alleys that run across the old town. To this day, the historic center preserves the l a y o u t i t h a s h a d s i n c e i t s founding in 1102, and offers visitors a chance to get wonder- f u l l y l o s t . O n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t m o n u m e n t s i s t h e Cathedral of St. Anthony Abbot, the town´s patron saint, visible from several miles out at sea, and the Church of Santa Maria, w h e r e s a c r e d p e r f o r m a n c e s b e g i n d u r i n g H o l y W e e k . Spaghetti with sea urchin -from January to March- or with astice (lobster) -in the summer- are an absolute must-try in the area, as are Sardinian wines, especially full-bodied Cannonau. Montalbano Elicona, Sicily. The castle, dominating the tortu- ous medieval urban fabric of Montalbano, is the most recog- nizable landmark of this charm- i n g v i l l a g e , a l o n g w i t h t h e scenic rocky landscape that sur- rounds it. Erected on pre-exist- ing Byzantine and Arab struc- tures, the castle was turned into a Norman-Suevian fortress, and dates back to the 12th century: today the castle is owned by the town and used for exhibits. The views from this small sicilian village are breathtaking: from the Portello lookout you can see the peaks of the Nebrodi, cape Milazzo and the Lipari Islands. The local gastronomic tradition i s b a s e d o n s i m p l e , g e n u i n e ingredients, try pasta with beans and pork rind or maccheroni with pork sauce and grated aged ricotta. I Borghi più belli d'Italia: Italy's most beautiful villages Pietra Pertosa, Basilicata Otranto, Puglia Castellabate, Campania

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