TypeInstant - Rediscovering roots, Italy

This weekend getaway started with a five-hour drive from Rome toward the southern part of Italy, into the province of Salerno. We left home around seven in the morning, stopping for breakfast shortly after the first highway toll. The drive at this time of year is very pleasant; before I knew it, we were already parking in the village of Bosco (a district of San Giovanni a Piro) where we would stay overnight.

Strategic stop for a coffee at an "Autogrill".
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

Bosco village.
Voigtländer NOKTON 35mm F1.2 @f/11

BOSCO

After taking a couple of missed turns while trying to navigate the tiny, confusing roads of Bosco village, we parked our car at a viewpoint. It felt good to stretch my legs and enjoy the warm sun, the fresh breeze, and the wonderful view before us.

Bosco is known for the Spanish painter José Ortega, who moved here around the 1980s. According to Ortega, the village reminded him of his home in Spain. His former residence features a painted tile at the entrance depicting a painter holding a brush upward, with the word "pintor" written on top.

Detail of our room's door handle.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/1.2

Entrance to our lodge.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

My wife's great-grandfather was born in the town of San Giovanni a Piro, a mere 1.5 km away from Bosco. Despite living in Italy for such a long time, we had never visited San Giovanni. Now, with her aunt and uncle visiting us from the USA, it felt like the perfect opportunity to discover this place and, for them, rediscover their roots.

Detail of a small rickshaw parked next to us.

The lodge's entrance door knuckle.

Breakfast table detail. The tile represents a replica of Ortega's "La sete" (SED) paint.

Detail of our room's lamp.

In Bosco, we stayed at Pie’ d’Ulivo (literally translating to "at the foot of the olive tree"). An acquaintance of my wife's aunt, who had met other family members during a trip in 2005, recommended the place to us. We called the owner and arranged everything. Our host, Nicola, is a retired doctor who was incredibly welcoming.

Millenium-old olive tree trunk detail.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/9

Piè d'Ulivo accomodations.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/1.2

The property had everything you would expect from a traditional Italian countryside home. The decor, the environment, and the atmosphere were all a perfect match.

Piè d'Ulivo accomodations.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

— San Giovanni a Piro —

View of San Giovanni a Piro.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/9

After checking in, we continued on our way to San Giovanni a Piro. The short but twisty drive was filled with emotion. For my wife's aunt and uncle, the town holds a deeper meaning; they are connected to it by blood, and I imagine it must be a surreal feeling to walk the very same roads their grandfather walked so many years ago. San Giovanni is not part of my story, of course, but I couldn't help but feel just as emotional as them. For me, it was a different kind of journey — I was exploring and witnessing my wife’s distant origins.

View from inside a cafeteria in San Giovanni a Piro.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/9

A coffee cup.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/1.6

We parked in the town square right alongside the main road that crosses through the village. A few steps further, we spotted a café built to resemble a castle, complete with a tall façade and battlements. A handful of elders were chatting by the entrance. As we walked in, they stared at us as if we were creatures from another planet, leaving us to guess that this town doesn't receive visitors very often, let alone foreigners.

San Giovanni a Piro square.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

The owner was closing up shop, but he kindly stayed open a bit longer to serve us. The scent of coffee was delightful, and we couldn't resist a cup. To accompany the espresso, as tradition dictates, we ordered cornetti filled to the brim with jam!

The view from the café's seating area was mesmerizing. Still numb with a strange nostalgia for a place I had only ever pictured in my mind — which had now suddenly materialized before my eyes — I gazed through the arched windows at the lush greenery extending into infinity.

We said goodbye to the owner and set foot into the town’s historical center, navigating through narrow cobblestone streets. Our mission was to find the house where the progenitor great-grandfather had grown up. Armed with nothing more than a photograph and hope, we asked a few locals, who were able to pinpoint the exact address. It was easier done than said! Step by step, we continued through the maze-like alleys, eventually turning onto Via Teodoro Gaza.

Via Teodoro Gaza.
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Street in the center of San Giovanni a Piro.
Voigtländer NOKTON 35mm F1.2 @f/5.6

Alleyway in the center of San Giovanni a Piro.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

The harsh sun was right above our heads, illuminating the street and its flat-faced houses with shuttered windows and narrow, wrought-iron balconies jutting out from the upper floors. The balconies were decorated with blue-and-white banners for an upcoming Christian holiday, alongside several potted plants and laundry hanging here and there. At the end of the road, we finally reached our destination. A few pictures were taken, followed by a silent moment of reflection. We stayed there for a few minutes before saying a quiet farewell.

Balconies in San Giovanni a Piro.
Voigtländer NOKTON 35mm F1.2 @f/5.6

Farm tractor in the center of San Giovanni a Piro.
Voigtländer NOKTON 35mm F1.2 @f/5.6

San Giovanni a Piro and The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pietrasanta as seen from a viewpoint.
Voigtländer NOKTON 35mm F1.2 @f/9

The blue skies above us were screaming for more adventure. Back in our car, we continued up the winding hill road, and the higher we climbed, the more the landscape shed its modesty, revealing itself entirely. Scattered little towns nestled in the greenery danced with the crystal-clear sea in the background, all in perfect harmony with a brilliant blue sky—composing a canvas worthy of a master painter.

Our Lady of Pietrasanta prayer.
Voigtländer NOKTON 35mm F1.2 @f/5.6

Bell tower of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pietrasanta.
Voigtländer NOKTON 35mm F1.2 @f/9

We stopped the car to appreciate the view at a starkly contrasting war monument along the way. There, I took some time to fly my drone and capture a few images before continuing uphill toward our next stop: The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pietrasanta.

San Giovanni a Piro seen from above.
DJI Mini 3 Pro

View from Ciolandrea.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/11

Sapri beach.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/9

Port of Scario.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/7.1

The next day, I was awakened by the first rays of light coming through the gaps I had intentionally left in the blinds. Outside, the sun bathed the gardens, tinting them gold. I opened the windows and saw the breakfast hall, precisely where I would be heading in a few moments.

Sapri beach.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/11

Caffè in Sapri.
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Our short trip was coming to an end, bringing with it a bittersweet feeling. I had barely arrived, yet it felt like there was still so much more to explore. We said goodbye to Nicola and went on our way. My soul was light, and after a meandering drive, we reached the town of Sapri. We were eager to see a bit more of the Cilento coast, but time was against us.

6th century church in the center of Policastro.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/2.8

In Sapri, we stopped by the sun-kissed beach for a gelato and coffee before hurrying back to the car and starting our trip back home...

Rediscovering roots

Detail of a small rickshaw parked next to us.

The lodge's entrance door knuckle.

Breakfast table detail. The tile represents a replica of Ortega's "La sete" (SED) paint.

Detail of our room's lamp.

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