4.5 hour drive to Manfredonia. Then Carnavale time!

21 February, 2015

As it is still winter in Italy we decided to take the long way to Manfredonia rather than risk crossing the mountains behind Rome and encountering icy roads. We headed south on the A1 towards Naples then headed East across a smaller mountain range. After being on the roads in Egypt it is so nice to drive on great freeways (albeit very expensive tolls) with some very good drivers who follow a highway code of keeping out of the fast lane. Queensland drivers could learn some manners from the Italians.

We checked into the Regiohotel Manfredi where we will be based for the next two weeks. The check-in was very average as the reception guy had very little interest in giving us any hotel information, any assistance or any information about the area. Originally we thought that there wouldn’t be much to see around here and we were planning to just drive down to Bari to look around.

After we unpacked we decided to head into Manfredonia town centre for a light dinner (I wanted a pizza and red wine after the dreadful wines in Egypt). The little town centre seemed to be buzzing so we had a walk around and found out that this was Carnevale Week in Manfredonia. We managed to find the old town Piazza and just around the corner was a Tourist Office. Most tourist offices that we’ve found in Italy were more often closed than open so we were very surprised to find this one open at around 5:30pm.

Carnevale time in Manfredonia.

Not only was the Manfredonia Tourist Office open but the staff were extremely helpful. They were very proud of the “Carnevale Colori” (Carnival Colours). We were not only given details of the Carnevale but places to eat in town, what to see in town and attractions around the district. These guys need to teach some of the hotels how to help tourists get the best out of the area.

In the Tourist Information Centre in Manfredonia.

We were even given confetti (not the Sulmona type confetti but Ozzie style confetti) to throw on to the parade.

The most helpful and energetic Tourist Information staff we have ever met.

I want to take the staff with us. They would be great fun on our tours. What a great coincidence to find that we are in the middle of Carnevale on the night we were just going to look around.

Not sure if we should be watching out for sheep???

 

I wonder if they used real teachers as models?

The floats look even better in daylight.

 

One of the fantastic floats for the parade. Note the $ sign near Lynn?

This is going to be a big night.

These floats must have taken some effort to build.

Manfredonian Dragon.

No, it is not CBA staff.

This guy must live in the Manfredonia Castello.

Lynn sampling Farrata, a local delicacy.

The Tourist Office staff suggested that we try Farrata during the parade. We were given directions about where to find the best examples. I also bought some licorice which tasted the way licorice tasted when I was a kid. Yummy!

The parade included heaps of school children in elaborate costumes that were lit up with LEDs.

The parade went on for hours. These kids must have been exhausted by the end of the night. Party City!

We were certainly tired by the time we headed back to the hotel. This will be a night to remember.