Noticing some neolithic celts similar to those I obtained at Vaccarizza, I would gladly have learnt their place of origin. Promptly came the answer:

“Stromboli!”

“Nonsense, my good woman. I’ve been three times to Stromboli; it is an island of black stones where the devil has a house, and such things are not found there.” (Of course she meant Strongoli, the ancient Petelia.)

Gateway at Catanzaro

This vigorous assertion made her more circumspect. Thenceforward everything was declared to come from the province—dalla provincia; it was safer.

That bad picture—whence?”

“Dalla provincia!”

“Have you really no catalogue?”