Christ stopped along the railway of Andria-Corato

Two days ago, a tragedy occurred along the Apulian railways. 

So far, 27 people have died. More than 50 people are injured.

Who is responsible for that?






First of all, along the local route Andria - Corato there is just one bloody rail for two trains coming from the opposite directions. 

Would you imagine that? 

Nowadays, when huge investments are made for high speed train as well as TAV, we still travel in a such dangerous and non-effective way!?  

And that route is not the only one in Apulia to have just one rail. 

As far as I know, the Lesina-Termoli as well as the Bari-Matera have the same limit. This last route, covered by Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane (FAL), are on the spot since years because the management is accused of having wasted millions of euros.

On the top of it, bear in mind that the communication between the rail stations of Andria and Corato are carried out by fonogramma, such an obsolete way to communicate that is not even contemplated by wordreference.com (dictionary), therefore I ignore how to translate fonogramma in English. 

If Guglielmo Marconi had been alive, he would probably have known how to translate it.

There are precise responsibilities ascribable to the national institutions who do not control at all how certain companies manage local and regional railway transportations.

In order to understand what is going on in this country, I'd suggest you to read two articles: one written by Roberto Saviano, published by La Repubblica Perche' hanno dimenticato il Sud. The second one written by Giuseppe De Tomaso, editor of La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno Insicurezza a bordo incoscienza al potere.

In addition, the questione meridionals, which in other words is the economical, technological (etc etc…) gap between South and North is getting bigger and bigger.



So, Carlo Levi was wrong!

Christ did not stopped at Eboli, He did stop at Andria-Corato.




Ps. My apologies for any misspelling or grammar mistakes. However, I felt to write these words like they came out from my soul.

Matera, the European capital of culture 2019

Over the last days, the EU commissioners visited firstly Lecce in Apulia. Then, Matera in Basilicata.

Therefore, I asked myself: “Which city do you reckon is more entitled to be the European capital of culture 2019?”.

I have been thinking about it for a while. 

Then, firmly I replied to myself: “Matera, of course”.

I saw Matera for the first time four years ago.

As you probably are aware, Lucia, my partner, is from Altamura.

Altamura, located in Apulia, is just a bunch of miles from Matera.

So, Lucia has always described Matera as such a magic and inspiring town.

Therefore, I dated her in Matera, where we had a tasty pizza Napoletana. 

Soon after, we exchanged a tiramisù kiss ;-)

Nowadays, Matera is competing with Lecce and with other Italian cities such as Cagliari, Perugia-Assisi, Ravenna and Siena.

The reason for which I support the Matera candidature?

Well, in my opinion Matera has something unique I would say: i Sassi.

Basically, i Sassi are among the oldest housing units of the world.

The zone was already inhabited during the Paleolithic era.

Every time I come to Matera, I can’t refrain from contemplating i Sassi. 

It is like to visualize the history of Humanity. 

Matera is such an ancestral site.

Carlo Levi has written about the terrible hygienic conditions in which people of Sassi went through during the Fascist age. 

You find it in the Levi's cult book: Cristo si è fermato ad Eboli.

Book like this, contributed to create the cultural humus for people such as Rocco Scotellaro, poet of the peasant civilization.

I Sassi were portrayed during the 50ies as a “national shame”.

Soon after, more than 15.000 thousands people were relocated from i Sassi to new housing units.

For more than 30 years i Sassi had been completely neglected.

Then, in 1986 a national law funded the recovery of Sassi.  

I Sassi have been declared in 1993 world heritage by UNESCO.

Talking about cinema, many movies have been shot in Matera.

From my point of view, the most important one is the Pasolini’s The Gospel according to St. Matthew. 

This movie is considered by International cinema reviewers as the best one concerning the Jesus’s life.

Matera, but I would say the entire Basilicata, reminds Jerusalem, the holy land.

Mel Gibson has shot The Passion here. 

Additionally, Bruce Beresford has shot in 1980 King David, starring a young Richard Gere.

Over the last weeks, a Chinese crew of 60 people has just completed to shoot Marry me, which will be seen in China in February 2015. 

3.000 Chinese cinemas will show it.









Matera has an exciting cultural life.

Of course, the town is not just i Sassi.

Matera is pretty famous for its rupestrian churches, with stunning graffiti painted inside.

My opinion is that Matera has a genuine vocation to be the European capital of culture 2019.

The humanity sink roots in the Sassi.

Click here, should you wish to see more pics