A bit of history on a wall ………….

Now there are plenty of very narrow streets in Torre Annunziata, which sits in the Gulf of Naples.

I am not sure that you would choose it as your tourist destination of choice.

It is after all a busy no-nonsense place, which once made its money from making armaments, pasta, paper and breeding silkworms, along with a bit of fishing and shipping.

And today that is pretty much still the case with the addition of pharmaceuticals.

I like the fact that despite having a population of just over 42,000 it retains its own distinct dialect which is a variation of Neapolitan and is town that is pretty proud of itself.

Which is just how it should be, given that it is in the process of revealing a fine old Roman villa, has fine views across the Bay and offers plenty of those little twisty streets, which end in a piazza and reveal some interesting bits of Torre Annunziata’s past.

Like the sign on a wall which tells the story of making pasta, from unloading the grain in the town’s harbour, to the various processes, which end with a young woman, a glass of wine and a plate of pasta, set against a panoramic view of the Gulf.

It is a unique account of one family business.

And yes, look closely, and there are those classic pictures of the pasta hanging out to dry on street corners accompanied by groups of workers staring back at the camera.

It is a fascinating little bit of history, which of course led us on to thinking about food, and one of the town’s speciality street foods, called panzerotto, which differ from the usual ones, and instead of bread dough, are made from mashed potato and are deep fried.

Leaving me just to reflect that there were plenty of other things on offer, but a couple panzerotto were a good start.

Location; Torre Annunziata







Pictures; Torre Annunziata, 2019, Balzano