#mynovgetaway A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble. This is distinct from a palace, which is not fortified; from a fortress, which was not always a residence for royalty or nobility; and from a fortified settlement, which was a public defence – though there are many similarities among these types of construction. Usage of the term has varied over time and has been applied to structures as diverse as hill forts and country houses. Over the approximately 900 years that castles were built, they took on a great many forms with many different features, although some, such as curtain walls, arrowslits, and portcullises, were commonplace. European-style castles originated in the 9th and 10th centuries, after the fall of the Carolingian Empire resulted in its territory being divided among individual lords and princes. These nobles built castles to control the area immediately surrounding them and the castles were both offensive and defensive structures; they provided a base from which raids could be launched as well as offered protection from enemies. Although their military origins are often emphasised in castle studies, the structures also served as centres of administration and symbols of power. Urban castles were used to control the local populace and important travel routes, and rural castles were often situated near features that were integral to life in the community, such as mills, fertile land, or a water source.

The Eternal City is more like a giant, living museum. Visitors are immersed in and surrounded by thousands of years of history. It's a relatively compact city, and a three-day itinerary gets you to the minimum number of must-see places. #awesomepic#couplestrip#instagramworthydestinations#decembertravel

Up close to the canyon of the Castello Aragonese in Taranto, Italy. An Italian navy personally toured us around. It’s great that he is both explaining in Italian and english since not all of us understand Italian. It such a great feeling touching these historic artifacts. Although they have a gruesome past, It’s great to learn how these defended the lives of many. #mynovgetaway#awesomepic

View of the Ponte Girevole and the city of taranto at night as seen from the castelo Aragonese. Defnitely a sight to behold. Gives a different character to the city when it’s night time. In Taranto, Italy, the Ponte Girevole is a swing bridge that spans the navigation channel between Taranto's Mar Grande and Mar Piccolo. The bridge links the island of Borgo Antico (the old town) to the peninsula of Borgo Nuovo (the new town). #mynovgetaway#awesomepic

Near the farthest tip of Puglia where the "land ends" is a geographic oddity, the Fjord of Ciolo. Located just a few miles from Santa Maria di Leuca (where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea), a rocky inlet with marine grottos cut into the landscape and provide a surprising panorama. The 'fjord' canyon was carved out by the water over the course of time, marking the rugged coastline that is also known for its typical Mediterranean vegetation, including some indigenous rare varieties of orchids. Ciolo is the local name for a type of bird. The fjord penetrates the rock for a good distance, and is spanned by a high bridge, which affords a good vantage point to view the unusual formation. The sea is truly crystal-clear and a turquoise blue that also appears bright green in the right light, that is impossible to duplicate accurately in photos. It is accessible by a staircase, or, for the more adventurous, via aerial dives! Down there you can swim among the grottos and enjoy the unique atmosphere of a marine canyon. Within one grotto, accessible only by sea, you'll find a small lake inside! The fiordo di Ciolo is also known as the canale di Ciolo, and is on the Adriatic coast of Gagliano del Capo, between Novaglie and Santa Maria di Leuca #mynovgetaway #thanksgiving #mynovgetaway#thanksgiving

Mount Vesuvius is probably the most famous volcano in the world. School children across the world have read about it in their history textbooks for generations – the volcano that destroyed Pompeii! Usually Vesuvius is discussed in the context of the eruption in 79 AD – a story of history and a natural disaster of the Ancient World. Rarely do we mention that Mount Vesuvius is still active and one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Since Pompeii was destroyed by Vesuvius, there have been dozens more eruptions. We don’t know the exact number because the historical records of ancient time are incomplete, but the best estimate is about 40 times in the past 2000 years. In fact, Mount Vesuvius is the only volcano to have erupted in Europe in the past century. In its most dramatic volcanic event of the 20th century, lava flowed over the rim and huge clouds billowed into the air – all of it clearly visible from Naples. Hiking Mount Vesuvius, Naples, Italy It makes you stop for a moment and wonder whether hiking Mount Vesuvius really is a good idea? #mynovgetaway #thanksgiving #mynovgetaway#thanksgiving

We often think we have to go who knows where to find heavenly places, without realizing that, right next to us, there are natural wonders that deserve to be visited. All citizens of the world have the right to enjoy the wild beauty of unique places. San Nicola Arcella, located in the Gulf of Policastro, is a small Calabrian town with less than 2000 inhabitants, located on the Alto Tirreno Cosentino, along the Riviera dei Cedri. San Nicola, initially belonging to the nearby Scalea, was called San Nicola dei Bulgari and , only from the early 1900s, did it change its toponym to the current one, when it became, in effect, an autonomous municipality with its first mayor, Mr. Michele Tenuta. It seems that among the prominent characters, remembered by citizens and by history, St. Nicholas boasts Lord Crawford, the English writer who lived in 1800 who chose the Calabrian town as his home, staying in the Saracen tower overlooking the sea. Some of his stories of terror are set right in the Calabrian village, from which he stole the most natural and allegorical elements. San Nicola Arcella, overlooking the Tyrrhenian waters, between Praia a Mare and Scalea, boasts a beautiful stretch of coast with beautiful sandy beaches gray and a crystalline sea, between turquoise and blue, with sloping bottoms, perfect for swimming enthusiasts. The town is so named because of an extraordinary natural arch, probably carved out of the hard rock by the sea: the Great Arch, which opens the way to a small, silent, hidden, isolated beach. Inside there is an enchanting crescent-shaped lagoon, about 25 meters long, with very small gravel pebbles. #mynovgetaway #thanksgiving #mynovgetaway#thanksgiving

The Royal Palace, symbol of Caserta and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most important monuments of the Italian artistic heritage. It was designed in the 18th Century by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli, according to the will of Charles III, Duke of Bourbon. The Reggia di Caserta (that is, the Royal Palace) is a real masterpiece of architecture and decoration and it houses many works of art. Reggia Caserta While visiting its interior, it is amazing to look at the number of stucco works, bas-riliefs, paintings in fresco, sculptures, inlay floors that pass one after another. Remarkable are the ones of Sala di Astrea (the Astrea Room) Sala di Marte (Mars) and Sala del Trono (Throne Room), the biggest room within the royal apartments, that was used as a reception room for important personalities. The Pinacoteca painting gallery) is organised as a series of connected rooms, it exposes numberless still life and war events' paintings and some Bourbon family portraits. In the “old” apartment is exposed the Bourbouns' crèche, the Family's great passion, and whence the Neapolitan tradition of the Nativity originated. The palatina library makes up part of the Queen's apartments: the queen, refined woman of great culture, was possessor of a library elegantly decorated with reliefs and frescoes, such as that that reproduces the signs of the zodiac and the constellations, realized according to the drawings that Vanvitelli himself produced. The rooms dedicated to the four seasons are also very suggestive. An integral aspect that shows the majesty and beauty of the Reggia di Caserta (Royal Palace of Caserta) is its wonderful Park. It is a typical example of an Italian garden: wide lawns, squared flowerbeds and, above all, a triumph of water games (dancing water fountains). Along the central axis, basins, fountains and waterfalls, decorated with large sculptural groups, pass one after another. #mynovgetaway #thanksgiving #mynovgetaway#thanksgiving

I’m always entranced every time I see sunsets as enchanted as this. I just have to stop an stare at this fiery sky. This is somewhere along the coast of Italy. #tripaway #tripaway