Ali del Levante N.54 Dicembre 2012 - Aeroporti di Puglia

Winter
in Puglia, a
Treasure Trove of
Unusual Wonders
An English summary
of this issue’s main articles,
by Gino Lorenzelli
The Experience of Apulian Airports
by Marco Franchini
As Aeroporti di Puglia director general
Marco Franchini remarks, the
experience of a traveler across Puglia
may well start with a happy landing
and has a guaranteed happy ending.
Care for the environment and an
astounding modern infrastructural
system bring always new visitors on
our shores and encourage Apulians
to take off from our airports to discover
the planet. First and foremost,
writes Franchini, the environmental
path taken over the last ten years is
paying incredible benefits, Puglia is
getting attentions from international
travel organizers, food and wine
editors from the world over, archaeological
and historical researchers and
curious first timers who might have
heard of beautiful Puglia but have
no direct experience of it. Franchini
stresses the innovative approach
Aeroporti di Puglia is successfully
pursuing in order to offer the best
services available: from new technologies
applied to energy saving
policies to “old” natural practices, not
to forget a fresh approach to business
agreements between public and
private sectors.
Back to the City
by Mario Spada
Mario Spada starts his foray into
philosophical as well as architectural
terrain through the words of Ugo
Sasso, where the traditional Italian
way of life in old villages serves as
an answer to a disquieting question:
why quality of life in modern cities
is getting worse? The answers Spada
and Sasso give are quite wide,
as there are economical, social as
well as architectural reasons of this
decline. Social cohesion is especially
remarked by both authors as one of
the solutions to a better living, an
environmentally friendly approach to
new constructions. Spada makes an
interesting comparison between the
European concept of modern house
as proposed by the Bauhaus and Le
Corbusier, and the American way as
devised by F.L. Wright. Both views
were breaking from Eighteenth century
cities -- where roads and buildings
were not yet “attacked” by cars
-- and are still a precious template
for modern city planners.
Turks & Caicos, Gems
of the Caribbean
by Rosangela Pappalepore
Turks & Caicos are in fact 40 different
islands and cays, just as diverse
as its people. From the main tourist
center of Providenciales to the quiet
and tranquil islands of North and
Middle Caicos, to the historic Capital
Island of Grand Turk; each one offers
a different experience and a unique
character but all offer year round
great climate, beaches and underwater
activities.
Rosangela Pappalepore notes that
the only true way to tour Turks and
Caicos is to experience each island in
the entire chain. Gorgeous weather
and the warm temperatures of the
Caribbean Sea combined with amazing
aquatic life and stunning coral
formations make Turks and Caicos
62
the perfect destination for your next
scuba diving or snorkeling vacation.
Summer is the best time to snorkel
and dive, when warm weather brings
more underwater sightings of manta
rays and other aquatic life.
Shipwrecks off the shores of Turks
and Caicos can be hundreds of years
old. Places such as Birch’s Lookout,
the Northwest Reef, and the waters
off of Blue Hills are the final resting
places for a host of sunken ships
that were lost in the ocean depths.
On the West Caicos there are breathtaking
coral reefs and underwater
rock walls. Various species of coral
live in these tropical waters and there
is a coral wall that runs for two miles
along the western shore. Here, divers
can scour through some of the most
mature sponge formations anywhere,
including clusters of purple tube
sponges. For bird watchers, the salt
ponds and inland marshes serve as
excellent feeding grounds for resident
and migratory birds. Blue Herons,
Flamingos, Osprey and Pelicans
alongside Egrets, Terns, Frigates,
Boobies and other water birds dot
the landscape from the cliffs. As part
of the National Parks system more
than twelve small cays have been
set aside and protected for breeding
grounds. 170 species of bird can be
found in the Turks and Caicos Islands
from Pelicans and Flamingos to
Osprey and Cuban Crows. The variety
is staggering and the photographs
that have been taken here have been
published across the world.
While in the islands do not miss
Cheshire Hall, one of the key historic
attractions on Providenciales, one
of the most visited islands. The 200
year-old ruins of this former cotton
plantation are striking against
a backdrop of modern day Provo,
as the island is known locally. The