This is an addendum to Chiocciola's trip report on Basilicata including Aliano, the locale of Carlo Levi's great book "Christ Stopped at Eboli",

Erin, my wife and I also were taken with Basilicata because of friends we have met who live there. We also attended in April 2000 an Elderhostel two week program in Matera which included quite a discussion about Levi and Aliano.

The group chartered a bus and headed for Aliano on our day off from the program. Our reaction to the town was pretty much the same as yours.

However in October 2006, we returned to Aliano and could not believe the changes that had taken place. The town had decided to put forth a civic improvement program which involved significant improvements in streets, homes, and other facilities like a Levi museum, enoteca, etc.

It was a significant change but we still haven't decided which we prefer...the later gussied up
Aliano or the real Levi-like town.

Hello Ron,

So great to see another Aliano fan! There are several here on ST. Your visits sounds really great.

And wow, thanks for sharing the information about the improvements! I am really curious to see what it looks like now. Maybe it is time to go back!

When I have a few hundred dollars to spare, I really want to buy some of Jodi Hilton's photos from Aliano. They are amazing! (Click on "Italy: Levi's Village in Exile" to see the pictures.)

Wow, Erin, those are great photos! I wonder when they were taken. They appear to be pre-updated Aliano.