Now according to one travel authority the top ten things to do in Torre Annunziata range from 21 sights and landmarks, six outdoor activities, nine night spots and a handful of shops, spars, and parks.
But after the short flight from Milan down to Naples and the 30-minute taxi ride from the airport, the remainder of the first day’s stay should really be taken gently.
This usually consist of a stroll to the local supermarket for a few essentials, including a selection of pastries, one of which must be a zeppole and my favourite which is baba.
Then after a rest, a more serious wander to the nearby piazza where they sell fried potato croquettes.
These are called panzerotto but differ from the usual ones which look small calzone and use mashed potato instead of bread dough.
By which time there is not that much left of the day, and the most sensible thing is to head back to the apartment, and settle down for the night, so as to be ready for the morning’s adventures.
Torre Annunziata is a small place, and it is where Rosa was born.
The plan is to visit some of the old places and take in a few more from where Simone grew up, which is close by.
Today the town is a suburb of Naples, with a population of just over 42,000 but has its own distinct dialect which is a variation of Neapolitan.
It never occurred to me before that this will be what Simone and Rosa would have used at home and it will be what Tina and her brothers and sisters heard in the family home as they were growing up.
But Rosa and Simone left in 1960, and while they have been back, I wonder just how much it still looks like the place they knew.
The Encyclopedia Britannica described the town as "a seaport of Campania, Italy, in the province of Naples, on the east of the Bay of Naples, and at the south foot of Mt Vesuvius, 14 m. S.E. of Naples by rail. Pop. (1901), 2S,070 (town); 28,084 (commune). It is on the main line to Battipaglia, at the point of junction of a branch line from Cancello round the east of Vesuvius, and of the branch to Castellammare di Stabia and Gragnano.
It has a royal arms factory established by Charles IV., and other ironworks, considerable manufacture of macaroni, paper, breeding of silkworms, and some fishing and shipping.
The harbour is protected by moles. Remains attributed to the Roman post-station of Oplontis were discovered in making the railway between Torre del Greco and Torre Annunziata, a little west of the latter, in 1842”.
But that was in 1911, and today my guide book tells me that it still has industries based around the navy, armaments and pharmaceuticals.
Just leaving me to ponder on the current exhibition of “sculptures and objects from Roman villas” at the Palazzo Criscuolo.
It will cost us just € 3.00, and not for the first time I ask Tina if they might offer concessions for OAPs but reflect that my concessionary bus pass might not pass muster as identification of my senior age.
So instead I will use the virtual guide to see what I am missing, which can be accessed from the town’s municipal web site.*
Who said you can’t live in the fast lane in Torre Annunziata?
Location; Torre Annunziata
Pictures; Torre Annunziata, 2019, from the collection of T. Balzano
*Comune Di Torre Annunziata, http://www.comune.torreannunziata.na.it/hh/index.php
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| Baba and zeppole |
This usually consist of a stroll to the local supermarket for a few essentials, including a selection of pastries, one of which must be a zeppole and my favourite which is baba.
Then after a rest, a more serious wander to the nearby piazza where they sell fried potato croquettes.
These are called panzerotto but differ from the usual ones which look small calzone and use mashed potato instead of bread dough.
 |
| Looking for the piazza |
Torre Annunziata is a small place, and it is where Rosa was born.
The plan is to visit some of the old places and take in a few more from where Simone grew up, which is close by.
Today the town is a suburb of Naples, with a population of just over 42,000 but has its own distinct dialect which is a variation of Neapolitan.
It never occurred to me before that this will be what Simone and Rosa would have used at home and it will be what Tina and her brothers and sisters heard in the family home as they were growing up.
But Rosa and Simone left in 1960, and while they have been back, I wonder just how much it still looks like the place they knew.
The Encyclopedia Britannica described the town as "a seaport of Campania, Italy, in the province of Naples, on the east of the Bay of Naples, and at the south foot of Mt Vesuvius, 14 m. S.E. of Naples by rail. Pop. (1901), 2S,070 (town); 28,084 (commune). It is on the main line to Battipaglia, at the point of junction of a branch line from Cancello round the east of Vesuvius, and of the branch to Castellammare di Stabia and Gragnano.
It has a royal arms factory established by Charles IV., and other ironworks, considerable manufacture of macaroni, paper, breeding of silkworms, and some fishing and shipping.
The harbour is protected by moles. Remains attributed to the Roman post-station of Oplontis were discovered in making the railway between Torre del Greco and Torre Annunziata, a little west of the latter, in 1842”.
 |
| Down a street |
Just leaving me to ponder on the current exhibition of “sculptures and objects from Roman villas” at the Palazzo Criscuolo.
It will cost us just € 3.00, and not for the first time I ask Tina if they might offer concessions for OAPs but reflect that my concessionary bus pass might not pass muster as identification of my senior age.
So instead I will use the virtual guide to see what I am missing, which can be accessed from the town’s municipal web site.*
Who said you can’t live in the fast lane in Torre Annunziata?
Location; Torre Annunziata
Pictures; Torre Annunziata, 2019, from the collection of T. Balzano
*Comune Di Torre Annunziata, http://www.comune.torreannunziata.na.it/hh/index.php
Loved reading this post. My parents are from Torre Annunziata and I spent many summers growing up there.
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