Matese mountains and lake, Letino Town

Mmm... persimmons, figs picked straight from the trees for breakfast - this is how our first day in Villa Santa Croce started. Finally, we saw how narrow the streets and roads were - if two cars were coming from opposite directions - they would definitely have to slow down, in rare cases - one of them would have to go backwards until there is enough space for two cars to pass by.

This is actually good thing, when you slow down, you have enough time to great with anyone in the other car. And in most cases, in these small villages and towns, there would be someone you already know in the other car. And drivers seem to be polite to each other, they are not in a hurry, they just enjoy the fact that they met somebody on the road, that they already know.
This region of Italy - Campania is famous for mozzarella(real mozzarella di bufala!). So, that very morning we were taken by our hosts to a small  mozzarella factory. It is owned by the friends of our hosts. We were given blue caps and aprons and could see the process of making by ourselves. Afterwards we tasted fresh mozzarella. It couldn't be fresher!

Into Matese mountains! I wouldn't want to drive there. All this beauty is so distracting, I would probably end up of the road.

After the show and getting some cheese for that day's lunch, our trip continued to Matese mountains. Driving slowly through curvy mountain roads, stopping at small villages, by noon we reached the lake of Matese. The landscape was the meal for our eyes. And we had a pick-nick basket there, enjoyed the warmth  of the sun.

Matese lake in Matese mountains. Just few weeks before this place was full with migrating birds, or so I was told.

On our way to Letino town we met this shy beauty. Locals call it chucho!

After filling our stomachs we set off to Letino town - a place awarded the orange flag - an acknowledgment mark of life quality and sustainable tourism in small towns of Italy. Having local guides pays off - one of us got to sit next to the driver in an Italian Ape and experience the ride through narrow and steep streets.

Italian Ape. I call it claustrophobomobilis. This one is used for gathering waste and trash from the steep and narrow streets of the town.

Then we went to castle, which appeared to be closed, but the views from there were still gorgeous.

a view from the Letino castle

We came from the wrong side. We actually had to climb this stony hill.

The castle was closed. We tried calling, but nobody answered. One of us knew where the key was kept, but we didn't use it. But this photo is about beautiful mailbox, not about castle doorbell.

Letino town has a bar called "Che Guevara", where the locals meet for the cup of coffee and to discuss the local news.