Xylem Excursions

10/21/2026

Our home away from home, in a trullo for our last night in Puglia, in alberobello before we fly homw tomorrow!!

10/20/2026

In 2013, a bacteria was
unwittingly brought to southern Italy on a decorative coffee plant from Costa Rica. It has caused the death of millions of olive trees in the Puglia region. Traveling north along the Adriatic through Italy's olive carpet region, the visual sign of the Xylella fastidiosa bacteria is unfortunately visually apparent in the fields.

10/20/2026

10/20/2026

Arrivederci to Lecce and on to the the Castellano caves, a visit to an olive grove and to Alberobello where we'll sleep in trullis for the next two nights.

10/19/2026

Day trip to Otranto, the city the furthest east, on the Adriatic sea which looks more like Greece than Italy!

10/19/2026

Italy's geography! We are in one of the only two areas in the country (in the heal of the boot) that are flat and incredible areas for farming...olives, almonds, citrus, hazelnuts, wheat, and acres and acres of beauty!

10/19/2026

DOP, IGP — these letters are often found on the label of your favorite Italian food and drink, but what do they mean? Get our guide, and shop with know-how!

10/19/2026

A nice explanation of the strictness/authenticity of Italian products...

10/18/2026

Lecce, in southern Italy, near the Adriatic sea is a baroque masterpiece.