This entrance hall is located on Via Santa Scolastica, in the “Camere Nuove” area of town. The Camere Nuove, or “New Rooms” were the first homes built beyond the limits of the Old Town. You can’t see this entryway from the street as it’s hidden behind a large “portone,” which is the building’s main door. The style of this entry is quite different from the modern one I featured in an earlier post. I know which of the two I prefer, but take a look at the other one and let me know what you think.

This building was the birthplace of Leonardo Azzarita, a famous journalist born in Molfetta in 1888, he died in Rome in 1976. He wrote for and directed several national newspapers, was president of news services and journalistic associations. His son, Manfredi, who was a member of the Resistence during WWII, died at the Fosse Ardeatine (1944).

Saint Scholastica, just in case you’re wondering, was the twin sister of Saint Benedict and led a religious community of women in central Italy in the early 500s. She is the patron saint of nuns and convulsive children and is invoked against storms and rain. Read more about her here.

0 comments