I am a lucky guy and very blessed, thanking God every day for my family, friends, and the ability to travel and satisfy my wanderlust. I am most thankful, with a father’s love and pride, for my daughters, Erin and Taylor. As a bonus, my daughters love traveling as much as I do, how’s that for the apples not falling far from the tree. In fact, my daughters arranged all of the AirBnBs we stayed in as well as all of the activities. They did a fantastic job!
After 4-days of solo exploring and tours of and around Naples Italy, my daughters met me in Naples. The following day we rented a car to drive northeast into the mountains of central Italy, to visit my father’s hometown of Forli del Sannio (Municipality of Forlì del Sannio (IS)- Institutional Website (forlidelsannio.is.it)). Pre-World War II Italy under Mussolini was difficult. So, like many Italians and Europeans of that time, he and his family left Forli del Sannio in 1928 (my dad was 8-year-old) and headed for America. As described in a previous blog (Journey to My Dual Citizenship (wanderlustencounters.com), my father and his family chose to settle in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
I recall that my father once mentioned that he never had any interest in returning to Forli del Sannio for a visit. He said that all of his immediate family had immigrated to the US, and no one remained in Italy that he wanted to see. So, this is the first time anyone in my immediate family has ever been to Forli del Sannio, since 1928. My daughters and I figured it would be an easy 2-hour drive from Naples and who knows when we would ever be this close again.
The drive from Naples was easy to navigate and all roads were well marked. We did get hit with a few small tolls, I think it was about 1 or 2 euros each time. Using cash (euro coins) is the easiest way through the toll booths. No big deal. Once away from the industry and crowds of Naples, the Italian countryside was beautiful, at times lush, mountainous, and interspersed with idyllic small country towns, vineyards, and orchards.
My daughter Erin did the driving and we drove directly to Forli del Sannio (Forlì del Sannio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) and parked in the small square in the middle of town (Piazza Regina Margherita). This is a small (approximately 630 residents) farming community (primarily). Farms in the area grow olives, fruits, some types of nuts, and other small crops for the region.
Forli del Sannio is a picturesque, sleepy little town located in the region of Molise and Provence of Isernia. I found out later that it is near a ski area Roccaraso, which is part of the larger AltoSangro Ski Area (about 80 ski runs and 24 lifts and trams), SKIING IN ABRUZZO - Roccaraso.net. The ski town of Roccaraso is about 15 minutes north of Forli del Sannio. However, with minimal tourism, Forli del Sannio will probably remain a sleepy, little town in central Italy.
Forli del Sannio Italy pictures around the town square.
The buildings in the town of Forli del Sannio are old, but seem well cared for, evidence of the pride of ownership by the residents. However, except for a few wall fragments of an old fortress above the town square and their proximity to skiing, there’s not much to attract tourists. But this little town has its character. As we walked around Forli del Sannio, I noticed a monument to those who died in the World Wars and recognized several with the last name of Iarussi (my father’s last/sir name).
After walking up the hill from the town square to the old castle ruins and having a quick drink at the local bar, we decided to drive to Isernia, where we reserved an AirBnB for the night ((Art of Living) Exclusive 130 SQM - Apartments for Rent in Isernia, Molise, Italy - Airbnb)).
Isernia Italy street scenes
About 10 minutes south of Forli del Sannio is the much larger town of Isernia (Isernia - Wikipedia), with several old churches (Cathedral of San Pietro and Santi Cosma e Damiano), an old public fountain (Fraterna Fountain), and regular open-air markets, Isernia does attract tourists.
Unlike Forli del Sannio, Isernia attracts enough tourists to have several AirBnBs and a couple of hotels. We stayed at a very nice AirBnB, in the central town area, and had time to walk around and visit a few of the stores and restaurants and the Fraterna Fountain.
The following morning, we left Isernia for the drive back to Naples, to return the rental car and catch the train to Pisa. The train ride was very relaxing and even with a quick change of trains in Florence, we were in Pisa before we knew it.
Even though it was only a 15 min walk to the AirBnB from the Pisa Centrale train station, we stopped and had a cold drink on our way. Once again, my daughters booked a beautiful, ground level AirBnB unit (Apartment in the historic center of Pisa - Condominiums for Rent in Pisa, Toscana, Italy - Airbnb).
With only one day in Pisa (Pisa Printable Tourist Map | Sygic Travel), we had a lot to see, starting with the Duomo and the Leaning Tower. My daughters are great travelers and explorers. Like me they like to have a bit of structure, as in specific plans for important sights and activities. However, we also like a lot of unstructured time to just explore, which we also did.
The self-paced tour of the Leaning Tower (Opera della Primaziale Pisana: sito ufficiale – Tower (opapisa.it)) was great. Since it was Sunday morning, the queue was not long, and the wait time was brief. Remember, NO backpacks in the Leaning Tower and the bag check is a bit of a walk across the green. When it was our time, the 3 of us climbed the steps of the “leaning” circular, worn and polished stone staircase. Glad I had my hiking shoes on. In addition to the tilt of the tower, the stair steps were worn and uneven. After a long climb and dodging those coming back down the stairs, we made it to the top and were there for the bell ringing (the Leaning Tower is the bell tower for the Duomo). Very Loud!
The Leaning Tower is located in the walled-in Piazza del Miracoli (the Square of Miracles) also called the Piazza del Duomo (Duomo Square) (Piazza dei Miracoli - Wikipedia) and is one of several buildings including the Duomo (Cathedral) of Pisa, the Baptistry, and the Monumental Cemetery.
We spent several hours walking around and visiting the various buildings – your Tower ticket will get you into the Duomo. Of course, we did the tourist pictures of trying to hold up the Leaning Tower… funny.
After walking around Pisa, and of course a quick gelato, we walked to the Pisa Centrale train station. Next stop, Genoa (or Genova) a large coastal town and birthplace of Christopher Columbus.
However, Genoa's uncontrolled growth from illegal immigrants mainly from North Africa and the Middle East, is causing Genoa to develop “grittiness” and “dangers”, not unlike other areas of Europe.
Before writing about Genoa, I have to express my very strong feelings about the effects of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION which is happening worldwide. We experienced it in Genoa more than other places.
Don’t get me wrong, as a first generation American, I completely support LEGAL IMMIGRATION, where a government can control its borders and chose who to let in and who to restrict. That is a fundamental responsibility of all governments, to protect their citizens, and that includes strong borders and immigration laws that are enforced. Due to continuing corruption of many of our politicians and government leaders, borders are wide open, and politicians are getting very rich paid by corrupt globalists. We must wake up and get rid of the corruption before it is too late.
No matter what you read in newspapers, or online, or see on the broadcast news – uncontrolled, unregulated illegal immigration is currently destroying the United States and has had major impacts on most countries of Europe, especially UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France. In addition to allowing criminals into these countries, resulting in major crime waves in most large cities, many illegal immigrants chose NOT to assimilate into the society of their new country.
Not only are Illegals criminals, they place a considerable strain on all public and private services, from healthcare to education, in every country. These are services planned, designed, budgeted, created, and administered for CITIZENS and LEGAL ALIENS of that country. No matter how big hearted you are and want to help the illegal immigrants, the system and the services are not prepared to help this many. It has to end before our societies end.
My next post will cover the remaining part of our trip up the Italian coast.
I cover Genoa and Milan in Part 2….
Stay tuned….
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