Old Calabria

Old Calabria is a travelogue written by Norman Douglas, originally published in 1915. The book is a fascinating account of the author's journey through the southern Italian region of Calabria, which was then a relatively unknown and remote area. Douglas writes about the landscapes, the people, the customs, and the history of the region, providing a vivid and detailed picture of life in Calabria at the time. He describes the rugged terrain, the ancient ruins, the quaint villages, and the bustling markets. He also delves into the region's rich cultural heritage, including its Greek and Roman roots, and the influence of the Byzantine and Norman empires. The book is a wonderful blend of travel writing, history, and anthropology, and is considered a classic of its genre. It provides a fascinating glimpse into a world that has long since vanished, and is a must-read for anyone interested in Italian culture and history.It was here, yesterday, that I came upon an unexpected sight--an army of workmen engaged in burrowing furiously into the bowels of Mother Earth. They told me that this tunnel would presently become one of the arteries of that vast system, the Apulian Aqueduct. The discovery accorded with my Roman mood, for the conception and execution alike of this grandiose project are worthy of the Romans. Three provinces where, in years of drought, wine is cheaper than water, are being irrigated--in the teeth of great difficulties of engineering and finance. Among other things, there are 213 kilometres of subterranean tunnellings to be built; eleven thousand workmen are employed; the cost is estimated at 125 million francs.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.