Sorry for a few days without updates... We didn't have internet access while we were in Tivoli, but now we're staying in Florence with wireless access in our rooms, so you can expect some updates in the next three days!
On Wednesday we traveled away from Rome for the day to Barmozo and Bagnaia, two small villages northeast of the city in the foothills of the Appenines (Appenino, as the Italian say). Our first stop was the Parco dei Mostri or Park of the Monsters. The garden is full of various sculptures created from the pre-existing volcanic rock. The sculptures were of things like mermaids, mythological creatures, and animals. One of the best was of a leaning house reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We strolled around the park and then had lunch at the "snack bar." Well, let's just say that what Italians consider a snack bar is miles (or should I say kilometers) better than what Americans would call a snack bar. Hot dogs, french fries, potato chips? Heck no. For lunch, they had things like pasta and tomatoes and zucchini, seafood salad, artichokes, and pollo con porcini (chicken with mushrooms).
After lunch, we hopped back on the bus and headed to Villa Lante in the tiny village of Bagnaia. Villa Lante is one of the most famous Italian Renaissance gardens, and it's not hard to see why. T
he garden incorporated lots of flowering plants, waterfalls, fountains, trees, statues, everything. To top it off, the view from the garden was fantastic, overlooking the whole village and surrounding countryside.
Villa Lante in Bagnaia, east of Rome
We spent a few hours exploring the gardens, taking pictures, and sketching. Then we walked back down the hill into the village of Bagnaia. Most of us indulged in some gelato (ice cream)--much cheaper than it was in Rome--and strolled around the piazza. Because we were the only tourists in town, we attracted a lot of attention from the locals. Corrin made friends with an 80-year old man who served for Italy in World War II and was captured by Americans and brought as a prisoner of war to a camp in Georgia, close to where Corrin is from. The man said that life as a prisoner might have actually been better than life in Italy at the time. No one we talked to spoke any English, so it was an exciting challenge to try and communicate. Let's just say that we probably couldn't have done it without our tour guide and translator, Edi.
The best part of the town was the section within the Medieval walls. The streets were windy, steep, and too narrow for cars. Most windows had clothes hanging outside of them, and the buildings were shades of brown, orange, and yellow. I think we all fell in love with this little village. Words don't do it justice, so here is a picture:
On Thursday we left Rome for good and headed east to Tivoli, where we visited three gardens and an archaeological museum on Thursday and Friday. We stayed overnight at a quiet hotel in the countryside--a much-needed change from the chaos of Rome. The hotel had a pool and balconies with gorgeous views. We also had dinner all together at the hotel--a traditional meal with lots of courses... one of which was french fries, much to our surprise. It's surprising how popular french fries are in Italy and how they are eaten with just about anything... including pasta and veal!
Time to explore Florence... I will try to post some more pictures tonight or tomorrow!
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