Our week in Italy flew past like a dream! Plenty travel videos showed crowded places but even in the crowds, the charm of Italy is not lost. Alberobello and Matera offered unique characters in the quieter corners of Puglia region along the Adriatic Sea. A short day-trip from Rome to Pompeii and Amalfi Coast was worth visiting as a teaser for another trip. Rome and Vatican with its history needed more than 2 days we were able to spend. Wandering the ancient maze of Matera From the Bari Airport, the drive to Matera started with a drenching rain in some areas along the way. Just the week before, we read about Matera getting flooded by torrential rains. So, we kept our fingers crossed about our sojourn at Matera and didn’t have much hopes. As we drove closer to Matera the glistening rays of sun peeking from the clouds gave us some hope! The Fra I Sassi Residence hotel is in a ‘ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato)’ zone where only cars with certain permits can enter. It is to...