19 and 20 March 2016 Lucera

Lucera is an amazing city, Bella, filled with architectural surprises, with beautiful views, with huge potential. Old buildings with beautiful façades full of trimmings, picturesque courtyards, almost of the domestic microcosms. Lucera offers so much: a beautiful Angevin Castle, built on the hill where once stood the Palace of Frederick II of Swabia, built by 1233; a beautiful villa with lots of trees, on the Hill of Belvedere; many streets and squares paved with ivory-coloured marble and basalt, or with white stones of river. The night life is lively, Although the locals I have been assured that in summer it is much more. I have eaten very good pizzas: I quote Gastronauts and Royal Pizza. The people are friendly and helpful. You have to wonder why Latham do not believe in the resources they have, because this city is so asleep. Tourism is virtually absent, the tourist accommodation almost hidden…
Lucera also boasts a Roman amphitheatre, an ancient Cathedral, basement still inaccessible and an ancient library full of frescoes.
With Joseph Eng Boo Tan (creator of the Association “This is art”) I toured the length and breadth of the city, Knowing so many people.
The 20 I had lunch with his family and relatives, and with two of his cousins went to see olive groves. The cousin of Joseph, Valentino, He told me many things about pruning: normally a trimmer is paid 5 Euro tree and takes about 15-20 minutes. Winter pruning of less, so the foliage protects the trunk from cold winds. The branch pruned with a U shape with angles used to be able to place the ladder that will serve to make the hand-picking of olives. The olives are harvested by hand if they are, Why should not be scratched. Afterwards there will be an additional check to eliminate damaged olives.. Under the olive trees at the beginning of April it makes a first plowing and from August to September a milling, period in which they stand even suckers at the base of the trunk. Do these work on the ground to make it more permeable to water (I explained that the table olive needs a lot of water) to reach the tree roots (rather than weeds). Interesting to find out that not all adopt the technique of green manure.