Francavilla unidentified light report — December 16, 1978

At about 2:30 a.m. on December 16, 1978, Daniela Baldassarre reportedly watched an unusual light from her home overlooking the sea at Francavilla al Mare. Some summaries describe a misty ovoid form with red and green lights at its ends. It descended toward the water near the beach and became an intense white glow reflected on the sea. She tried unsuccessfully to wake her parents, then returned to the window. Two small figures appeared near a greenhouse or adjoining garden between the building and beach. They were approximately a metre tall, extremely thin, with small shoulders, large squarish heads and unusually long feet. Their dark outfits are variously described as grey or blue-grey-green. They walked in single file, awkwardly or as though limping. The fuller Italian account says their backs remained toward her. Facial features and eye shape were therefore not observed. The figures passed out of sight toward the beach; a little later the white light near the breakwater vanished. Actual boarding was not witnessed. Maurizio Verga’s ITACAT and Moreno Tambellini’s account preserve the source trail. This is separate from Alfonso d’Aviero’s different roadside encounter in the same locality that afternoon.