The Mozzarella farm, where we get up close and personal with the main characters and a enjoy very fresh ingredients for lunch and dessert on Day 7
We toured the family owned and operated Tenuta Vannulo Buffalo Dairy farm that's part of a $430 million South Italy industry manufacturing buffalo mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. The main characters of the show are asian buffalo who reign supreme. The farm is an organic certified sustainable agriculture operation. There are 600 Buffalo. A hypothesis for the arrival of the Asian buffalo into this region is that the Normans brought them into the area from Sicily about 1000 A.D. These huge animals are well treated and respond with large deliveries of milk. They're fed a special mixed feed. They carry a chip so the Swedish milking machines can track each cow. In this land of Mezzogiorna (hot sun) there is a constant cooling spray area available in the buffalo rest and feed areas. Sets of Large rotating brushes (like in a US car wash) are set at different angles so the buffalo can lean into them to massage different body parts. The buffalo line themselves up to enter the milking machines. It takes a nine step process for manufacturing the curd buffalo mozzarella cheese. The Italian government official title for the cheese: Mozzarella di Bufala Campana. We saw the last part of the hand massage step for making the cheese. The farm guide said the mozzarella should be eaten immediately, within 48 hours. When the buffalo's life is ended, the hide is used to produce very exclusive and expensive leather products. Our lunch included a terrific assortment of cheese's prepared in different dishes. Very special and good. The dairy also manufactures a very tasty ice cream which was retailed in their farm ice cream store. Very Cool and UMMM Good!
Buffalo up close at Tenuta Vannulo Farm.
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These structures are impressive up close. What a huge undertaking and massive human effort to create and install these large impressive monuments. The Temple of Athena, 500 B.C. is photo backdrop of tour members. The first Temple of Hara 550 B.C. has no pediment atop the Entablature (no roof triangle supports). The second Temple to Hara 450 B.C. does have a Pediment (triangle to support roof). Paestum assumed its name and became a Roman City 273 B.C. during the Roman Imperial period. The city was founded by Greeks about 6 centuries B.C. and its history is unclear until Rome conquered it. During WW II the US 36th Infantry Division landed here and there were nine days of heavy fighting in the area of the town before the Germans units withdrew.
Unique standing ruins of Paestum.
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The museum has beutiful hand painted vases. The painted marble tomb sides are famous.
The Diver attracted a lot of attention.
The Diver attracted a lot of attention.
Museusm with some 300 B.C. art.
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Back on the motorway we had spectacular sights of Naples Bay, Mt. Vesuvius, and steep cliff side road views of the Amalfi Coast. The bus could not navigate the steep narrow village roads and we stopped on a cliff side pullout to switch to hotel vans. Positano in the 1700's & 1800's prospered as a member of the Amalfi Republic. When the Republic failed the area fell on hard times and Positano became a poor fishing village. More than half the population emigrated from Europe in the 1800's. In recent times tourism and the tourist with euros to burn have been drawn to this clear warm seaside area. Tourism caused a resurgence of local life, and a way to make a living. From our Hotel Savoia we had a great view of the sea and the colorful structures cluttered on the steep cliffs.
On approach to the Amalfi Coast.
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