Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. November 2019 to February 2020
Central Italy B- Lake Trasimeno, Numana, Rome.
Lake Trasimeno
After our time exploring some of the Italian cities we decided that we needed some rest and relaxation so headed East. Our first stop was at San Feliciano on the shores of Lake Trasimino where we found a free camper stop (in the winter) with electric.
San Feliciano is a small town with plenty of narrow streets.
One of the harbours on the lake shore.
A lovely home for the local cats!
One of the cats having a rst in the sunshine.
Numana
We found a quiet spot to stay for a couple of nights at the harbour in Numana. The weather was lovely so we were able to explore the town and go out for a bile ride along the coast road.
The harbour from the small park at the top of the hill.
The coastline to the north of the town.
We bought fresh fish from this stall at the harbour.
Sunrise.
Rome
We spent 5 nights at a camper stop in Rome. It was close to a bus and metro stop which we used to get into the city. We had a mixture of weather with some rain but also some sunshine. The main tourist areas were quite busy - but nothing compared to what they must be like in the summer! The metro was very easy to use as you just use a credit card at the barrier - it was €1.50 per journey, whether you do just a couple of stops or want to go from one end of the city to the other.
Friday
We intended to visit the Vatican museums but were told we'd have to buy a timed ticket or wait in a long queue so we went to St Peter's Square, however the queue to go into St Peter's Basilica was also long so we just admired it from the outside. We then walked via a few sights to Piazza Venezia.
St Mark's Square
Long queues to go inside.
The Ponte Sant'Angelo over the River Tiber.
Piazza Navona.
The Pantheon is the best preserved ancient monument in Rome, it was built as a Roman temple but is now a Catholic church.
Inside The Pantheon.
Il Vittoriano, a monument dedicated to King Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy and one of several buildings around the Piazza Venezia.
We shared a pizza and fries at a nearby cafe. This was the only time we ate out in Rome (very expensive).
Saturday
A lovely sunny day. We were at the Colosseum by 9am and didn't have to wait long but were stopped at the security check point because Kevin had left his knife in the rucksack. There was nowhere that we could leave it so decided to change our plans and return tomorrow.
We walked past the Roman Forum with the King Victor Emmanuel monument in the background.
It was difficult to get a decent photo of the Trevi Fountain because of the shadows.
The view from the Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the top of The Spanish Steps.
Looking back up the Spanish Steps.
The Piazza del Popolo from the Pincio Gardens.
We found a bench in the Gardens where had our lunch.
After lunch we wandered around the gardens and the park.
Sunday
Yesterday we discovered that, on the first Sunday of the month, many of the sights in Rome are free to enter. We arrived at the Colosseum 15 minutes before opening time but there was already a long queue so, once again, we decided to postpone our visit! Instead we visited the Castel Sant' Angelo or The Mausoleum of Hadrian. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum.
We spent a couple of hours wandering around the museum. Some of the artillary was still in place, there were also several rooms filled with dispay cabinets.
Throughout the Middle Ages the castle served as a refuge in times of trouble, especially for the popes, who could reach it from the Lateran through a protected passage. The papal apartments were substantially reconstructed for their residents.
A room furnished for one of the Popes.
This room was for a different Pope.
The statue of St. Michael the archangel is situated at the top of the castle.
The outside of the Castel.
Great views from the roof - The Vatican.
Rooftops and churches across the river.
Monday
Finally we got to visit the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum!
The Colosseum is a magnificent structure! The area under the arena floor was called the Hypogeum (meaning underground). It consisted of a network of tunnels and 32 animal pens on two levels. It had 80 vertical shafts which provided instant access to the arena for animals and scenery.
Once past the security guards you enter the wide passageway around the arena.
Several staircases lead up to the outside seating area.
On the first floor there are lots of exhibits about the building and artifacts.
The Colosseum ticket also includes entry to The Palatine Hill and Roman Forum.
A view of the Palatine Hill from the Forum.
The Basilica of Maxentius, which was the largest building in the Forum
View to the NE from the Palatine Hill.
View to the NW from the Palatine Hill.