The Heritage Blog

January 2, 2010

World Heritage in Italy’s little known Basilicata

Filed under: World Heritage — Tags: Southern Italy, Spartacus, Statue Of Jesus, Traditional Festivals, Tyrrhenian Sea — ewwink @ 11:07 am

Of all of Italy’s regions that of Basilicata is arguably the least well known. Found in the arch of Italy’s “boot”, it is a small region with a coastline between Campania and Calabria on the Tyrrhenian sea and a larger one on the Gulf of Taranto.

For one of Basilicata’s attractions, the coastal town of Maratea is a piece of beachside bliss just south of the more famous Amalfi coast and yet more protected from tourist crowds. It has a great statue of Jesus atop its mountain to rival that of Rio de Janiero.

The rugged mountain ranges of Basilicata have a wide variety of cultural and scenic cycling routes that have been well documented by the local council. The Maratea to Rotonda route, for instance, begins in the beach area of Maratea, dips into two valleys, and finishes at the base of the Pollino National Park. Another variation passes the point where Spartacus was believed to have been killed.

For a slice of pre-history, the “Sassi” in the town of Matera are ancient Paleolithic rock homes. They are listed as part of UNESCO’s cultural world heritage and the town of Matera was used by Mel Gibson for the film The Passion of the Christ for its likeness to ancient Jerusalem.

An integral part of southern Italy are the traditional festivals and Basilicata region is no exception. One particular celebration is the marriage of the trees, an agricultural-based festival particularly strong in the village of Accettura. It’s a good excuse to also delve into more of Basilicata region’s “slow food” style.

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The World Heritage Site of Bath

Filed under: World Heritage — Tags: Bristol International Airport, Comedy Venues, Renowned Museum, Roman Baths, Shakespeare Festivals — ewwink @ 7:34 am

The city Bath is located ninety minutes away from London Paddington by train, a short drive from the M4/M5 motorways and just fifth teen miles from Bristol International Airport.

The World Heritage Site of Bath and the stunning countryside surrounding it is one of Englands most beautiful places to visit. It is a unique city with its hot springs, Roman Baths, splendid Abbey and Georgian stone crescents have attracted visitors for centuries. It is set in the rolling Somerset countryside. Accompanying Baths beauty idyllic countryside rich in history and heritage, a rural patchwork of charming villages, lakes and valleys.

A city centre rarely offers so much to see and do in such a small geographical area as in Bath Centre. World class museums, including the Roman Baths and the internationally renowned Museum of Costume, are so numerous that little gems such as the Book Binding Museum are easily overlooked. An important site of historical and cultural origins, the centre is home to the Abbey, site of 1600 years of religious activity, and the Theatre Royal is home to pre London tours and local productions alike. Music, literature and Shakespeare Festivals highlight the busy diary of activities, and pubs, clubs and various music and comedy venues are plentiful. Around every corner you can find excellent dining options, and if you’re bent on shopping, you cant go wrong. The city has all the big names as well as a complete range of independent merchants, all within easy walking distance of one another. Both train and bus stations provide easy access to all the city has to offer.

The industrial and social heritage of this old farming and coal mining region is celebrated in the town of Radstock at the museum. The areas a fascinating contrast to Bath, with plentiful evidence of by gone ways of life.

A visit must include following in the footsteps of Jane Austen and her characters from Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Promenade along grand Georgian crescents, take the waters and enjoy great shopping, dining and entertainment.

Jane Austen Walking Tours include experienced guides take you to the places where Jane lived, walked, visited and shopped, as well as discover Baths fascinating history, culture and wonderful architecture.

Other attractions include Ghost Walks of Bath. Experience the highly acclaimed tour on foot as you walk through the ancient streets of the Roman city of Bath.

Bizarre Bath which give a comic look at the sites and history of Bath.

The Great Bath Pub Crawl which are tours throughout the summer seven nights a week.

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July 29, 2009

The Lehigh Valley Ironpigs: Bringing Allentown ’s Baseball Heritage Into the 21st Century

Filed under: Heritage Park — Tags: Buffaloes, King Kelly, Ninth Inning, Professional Club, Renown — kebluk @ 1:47 am

Allentown, Pennsylvania much like several other towns and cities of the Eastern Seaboard have had a long and deep history with professional baseball dating back to the formation of the Allentown Dukes, an early professional ball club which played in the Eastern League in 1884.

Unfortunately, the Allentown Dukes only played one season before folding; however, during the 1890s, Allentown saw a several ball clubs come to the city – including the Pennsylvania League, Allentown Colts, which played during the 1892-1893 seasons. By 1894 the Allentown Colts were popularly known as Kelly’s Killers after their popular player-manager Mike “King” Kelly. Late in the 1894 season, Kelly moved the Binghamton (NY) Buffaloes to Allentown and they played the rest of that season as the Allentown Buffaloes – until disbanding after Kelly’s death from pneumonia at 35.

By 1896 the Allentown Peanuts brought Pennsylvania League baseball back to Allentown before disbanding and reforming again in 1898. Of course, by 1898, the Pennsylvania League had folded and the remaining teams formed the Atlantic League – until that league’s eventual collapse in 1900. Allentown went without a professional franchise until 1912 when the Tri-State League brought a club, which yet again folded two years later. But by the 1920s the Allentown Dukes name was revived for a semi-professional club, which played for four seasons at Edgemont Field, a new field completed for the club at Second and Susquehanna Streets. The new Allentown Dukes had some renown when Babe Ruth struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning in an 8-7 defeat of the New York Yankees. The success of the semi-professional Dukes led to the start of an Eastern League team with the same name, playing at Allentown ’s Edgemont Field in 1929. And by 1930 Allentown ’s club fielded a League Champion before being renamed the Allentown Buffaloes. Unfortunately, the team and the league collapsed in 1932. But a short three years later, Allentown managed to land its first major league farm club when the Brooklyn Dodgers moved their Reading team to the city, six games within their season. The newly renamed Allentown Brooks much like their predecessors played their home games at Edgemont Field, finishing up the 1936 season before disappearing.

The Boston Braves set up another minor league farm club in the Interstate League, using the Allentown Dukes name. Fairview Field, now known as Earl F. Hunsicker Bicentennial Park was specifically built for the new Allentown Dukes, and in their first season at Fairview Field, the Dukes won their league’s championship. The 1940 season brought a number of changes – the first being that the Interstate League’s status was upgraded from class C to class B, and the Dukes became an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dukes then changed their name to the Fleetwings. After a number of changing major league affiliations – at one point the Phillies and the Cardinals could claim having a team in Allentown – the Allentown team was renamed yet again to the Allentown Cardinals. When the Interstate League folded in 1952, the Allentown Cardinals managed to join the newly formed Eastern League, winning the league championship in 1955 and then folding. But in 1957, the Syracuse Chiefs moved their franchise to Allentown before being replaced shortly thereafter by a Red Sox affiliate, known as the Allentown Red Sox. The Allentown Red Sox played a couple of seasons at a relatively new stadium in nearby Whitehall Township before leaving in 1960. The stadium was demolished and later became the site of the Lehigh Valley Mall.

Almost forty years later, professional baseball returned with the formation of the Allentown Ambassadors, which played in the Northeast and Northern Leagues until 2003. And like their predecessors – the Dukes, the Fleetwings, the Cardinals and the Chiefs – the Ambassadors played their games at the newly renamed Bicentennial Park until 2003 when they too unfortunately folded.

But by 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies brought a Triple A affiliate to Allentown with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and with the construction of Coca-Cola Park; Allentown hopes to continue their connection with baseball into the next century.

For more information on Allentown, Pennsylvania visit http://www.allentownmicroblog.com. For more information on baseball, visithttp://baseballmicroblogging.com.

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