Mental Distortion

My first collection of photos on this blog of Bonefro, Italy received quite a bit of attention, especially from those who were looking for family roots in Bonefro. I was very lucky to spend 8 summers in Bonefro helping to run the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival, and I feel that I came to know the town and its people very well. It’s a time of my life that I will never forget, and I do plan to go back again.

Here is a second batch of photos that I took in 2004, a mix of photos of Bonefro, Termoli and the Tremiti Islands, islands that can actually be seen from Bonefro on the clearest of days, something I saw only once or twice in my 8 years there. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

As mentioned in the previous blog, the most important part of any small town in Italy is its piazza. This picture is one of those rare moments when not a soul sits in the center of town chatting, playing cards or simply walking around.

In 2002 a large 5.4 earthquake shook the small town of San Giuliano di Puglia, just a short distance from Bonefro. While most of the news was centered on San Giuliano and the 26 people killed there, several of who lived in Bonefro, Bonefro was greatly affected by the quake. Here is a picture of one of the two main churches in Bonefro that had to be reinforced by metal beams in order to prevent it from falling down. It looked this way for several years afterward.

The other church in Bonefro. It too was forced to close after the 2002 earthquake.

Afternoon chat. A common site when walking through the streets of Bonefro, or any other small town in Italy.

The convent. While it no longer serves a religious purpose, the convent is between 400 and 500 years old. It has also served as a jail and more recently a school. It now serves as a center for annual events, such as the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival, which I was a part of. The foundation of the convent itself date back over 2,000 years.

The convent hallway ceilings lit up at night. The ceilings in the convent are high and gothic in design.

Evening music in front of the convent. I can’t remember what these instruments were called, but they were unlike any I had ever seen before.

More evening music and singing in front of the convent.

In addition to the piazza, and sitting right next to the pizza itself are the 4 to 5 bars that are open for business year round, also a place for talking (and arguing), playing cards, watching TV and gambling.

I have always been amazed at some of the front doors all throughout Bonefro, many having on their front doors these to knock on. Very ornate in their design.

Food shopping.

Night festival in Termoli. 45 minutes away by car is the coastal city of Termoli. In August of every year the old town has a night festival that lasts for two weeks. Here is the main pizza in the center of old town Termoli, decorated with lights. Festivities last well into the night, with all main roads closed off for music and food.

I forget who the saint is in lights here, but very much a common sight in Termoli at that time of the year.

Late night discussion in front of the old church in Termoli’s old town piazza.

Festivities also include sidewalk shows. Here is a show in the old town piazza in Termoli.

Inside an abandoned lighthouse at the Tremiti Islands.