TRIP TO THE LEAST KNOWN TOUR IN ITALY SIENA TO POMPEII In our vacation We usually make a stop on the way to, if possible, swim at the beach. After the failure of Borghetto, we decided to find a campsite near a secluded beach, which we hoped would be free of crowds. Our first intention had been to visit the island of Elba ... but the rate of Ferry with our vehicle was fired on board ... we were willing to pay those fees even though we seemed exaggerated, if we had planned to enjoy a minimum of one week ... but to stay three days ... we discarded-see-this year we were conditioned by some family obligations that forced us to distribute more carefully the length of stay.
So we decided to move near Orbetello, we found a beautiful Giannella on the road, en route to Porto Santo Stefano in the Tyrrhenian Sea. We spend three nights here, dedicate one morning to visit Porto Santo Stefano, from which port the ferry leaves the island of Giglio (sadly, now so fashionable with the sinking of the Costa Concordia semi) With regard to this unfortunate event, let me comment ... I have the impression (and I would be wrong) that the shipping companies pay more attention to the qualities of "showman" of the Captains of these cruises that seafaring experience and capability. I wonder if our friend Mario D'Ambrosio has been Captain of Cruise, will be of the same opinion ... I have also seen occasionally Hotel Directors acting in the holidays that are organized in some Resorts and asked myself ... run the Hotel or ballet? Finally, my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.
The campsite is located on a narrow spit of land between two seas. One day, during our stay, there arose a strong wind swept a tide of algae, twigs and reeds on the shore. The next day it was difficult to sit on clean sand. A municipal employee or camping, I have not clear, tried unsuccessfully to clean a stretch of beach. So we decided to visit Porto San Stefano. A bus line we moved to this town with important Spanish reminiscences. A Castle at this time, stands defiantly on a promontory in the center of town. Most interestingly, the port was thick with all types of yachts. As I said, is a regular ferry constantly came to the island of Giglio, we went to the offices of the Carrier for times and fares ... we were hesitant to make the crossing, but other than that it was clear we could find in Giglio, the return schedules did not match the one bus that afternoon we could take back to the campsite.
At night, there were activities at the campsite ... I love to observe the candor of couples who voluntarily submit to ridiculous dance competitions, holding a ball between each pair in the front, etc.. This also makes me wonder is the grace of the Italians dancing ... although, a couple-I-center American venture, started the biggest applause.
On the fourth day we left and Tarquinia way we stopped at Orbetello, a town in the second language of the land of the three that make up this rare set, the third is a Natural Park. The town of Orbetello surprised by how extensive it becomes, when the plane presupposes a narrow misleading. The truth is that not very interesting.
We arrived at Tarquinia, parked with difficulty between the bus stops at the entrance to the town and went to the Tourist Office. There a lovely young woman, my requirements if you find where to park near the Etruscan necropolis, I said better to park within the walled town and I moved on foot to the Etruscan Tombs area. Not in my worst dreams could have imagined worse torture.
I walked through the narrow gate in the wall looking for the Parquin indicated by the girl and possibly mistaken the door, the fact is that I got caught with my camper of 7 meters in a diabolical web of narrow streets and impossible to turn in desperation, I decided to do ignore the prohibitions and do a stretch in the wrong way and finally, in a slightly wider intersection, turn around and go back to L and in the proper direction, yet I had to make one last spin a wheel half support climbing a stone basin in a corner properly protected the house. I do not want this torture to anyone, especially with the little faith that my wife was able to solve that problem. What was clear is that none of the population was willing to lend a hand ...
maybe because my situation was too common ... and worst of all is that on the outside of the Etruscan area had space left over for parking. Besides the walk from the walled city population was just under half an hour. My wife trembled at my reaction to the possibility of further visits to the Tombs was a failure.
Fortunately not, because the visit, I assure you, it's worth ... the tombs scattered over a wide area, are of great variety and quality of the pictures ... it seems extraordinary that in the Necropolis of Tarquinia Monterozzi also known there are some 6,000 graves excavated in the rock, within niches. We visited about 12 of the 200 niches decorated with paintings.
These represent among others, Panther, Bulls, Hunting, Fishing, Lioness, Baron, Jugglers, Hunter, Aegis and is a very curious and obviously, not recommended ... called "whipping", a woman in an erotic game is hit by two men, one hits her with a stick and one hand. Dating from the eighth century and sixth BC. In the Tomb of Orcus can admire two highly contrasting images, one, the Monna Lisa considered in antiquity, the image of the noble and beautiful Velcha Velia and the other, something very rare in Etruscan tombs, the "say, the devil" Tuchulcha certainly unrelated to the Christian devil. He said, unusual, and that the Etruscans did not like to paint in their graves anything but pleasant or pretty. They painted the background a door that was supposed to spend the next world. The Etruscans inhabited the area between the rivers Arno and Tiber for about 1000 years, until they were absorbed by Rome. Both the necropolis of Tarquinia and Cerveteri are World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
We finished the visit to Tarquinia crossing some of its medieval streets and the Palace Vitelleschi that contains the National Museum, with part of what was found in the Etruscan area. It contains some precious works, as two beautiful terracotta winged horses and paintings from the tomb of Triclino (480 a) and some amazing, as an extensive collection of highly erotic motif dishes.
I will not expand further in talking about the Etruscans, because I still Cerveteri.
Cerveteri is not far from Tarquinia. The type of tombs can be seen here are completely different. Here are some clusters on the surface. Apart from a couple of them, the paintings are rare, but not without interest, plus at most are allowed ... we visited them a rainy day and maybe this is almost the only visitors were ... produced a certain chill lonely walk between these stone beds, some with a chair also at the head stone for those who were to accompany the bodies ... I will not expand more in Cerveteri as possibly repeat what was said in Tarquinia, which does not mean you have less importance . It is also a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
From here and although we visited Rome several times, succumb to temptation and we move one day to the Italian capital. But first, since it was late, spent the night in a special parking for motorhomes near the sea. That gave us time to get an idea of how some Roman families vacationed. The beach was infamous and sad atmosphere. Step page, but believe me, look at the photograph of the Bar, which attached.
Parked well away from the center of Rome, in an area (not cheap) rather motorhomes designed to save during the winter to serve the way, but this is what you get (there was nothing better) and bus ... then underground to get downtown, past the stalls of "ladies" ...
Rome, as always overwhelming, we decided to go over four things ... take a fresh look to the Vatican and then walk we approach the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, stunning them. We continue to the monument to Victor Manuelle II, the "wedding cake" as a little contemptuously call the Romans. This and the attached church, apart from on recharging, worth a visit we had spared them.
Just, approaching the monumental Colosseum and the Arch of Trajan ... I think, as we are adding years, acquired a different perspective on things, I would say that we identify better with his age and beauty of the monuments, I remember my first visit to Rome and I have in mind that I have gotten where Roman women? ... one thing at a time ...
Back on the Highway and south ... We found a campsite just opposite the entrance to Pompeii. Naples remembered as a chaotic and uncertain, I remember I parked in a huge square in the center of town and went into a hotel to apply the same square room and when I told them I had left my wife looking after the car burst hands to his head and ran to the bell guard and bring the car to a garage of confidence ... I assure you it is true. With these memories, they will view that we prefer to go directly to Pompeii. Indeed, the ring road is chaotic, with half extended pieces ... guess that the Camorra's interests were affected and no further works were interrupted ... the look is drop ... even detour signs have been damaged ... we said few years ago, "Spain is different" but I say that Naples is still the "same".
Such is the density of land use in this area I asked at the reception of the campsite, from where he could see the ocean and the bay of Naples and after thinking man told me about 20 miles away, near Sorrento ...
Camping In Bar announced that by order, made the "Vera Pizza Napoletana" is supposed to the best tomatoes in the world ... the San Marzano ... true, gentlemen, say that the lava of Vesuvius filtered water and gives this exquisite flavor these tomatoes ... some compare it to the best black chocolate ... well, if you say, it may be so, for the color blind ... well, apart from these (pardon me) crap ... the pizza I ordered was "Pompeian and divine" and that that not wearing anything other than "tomato" ... of course ... of San Marzano!
Well, let's visit to Pompeii ... my lady came and found nothing predisposed to always announce the ... "the wonderful murals" or bodies "petrified" of ancient Pompeii ... true that all this, what could we saved from the violence of the inhabitants of the area, is guarded in museums. However, if one is able to walk among the crowd of visitors, abstract and imagine those streets in his time ... is a joy. The sleeping city, the 24 August 79 AD was the almost instant Asphyxiating of Vesuvius and left everyone in the positions that were found, the ash covered them back and immortalized these poor people ...
But it is something on the site of Pompeii, remains something left and behind bars, the figure of a dog dying, upside down ... not a bad sign indicating if authentic, other human bodies on shelves face the same fate ... what bother to tell ... in the brothel (brothel) images painted on the entrance of each room are eloquent enough of what the girl was willing to provide ...
Do not think that Pompeii is free of other attractions, theater, the Baths, the Forum and some houses with remains of mosaics are real beauties among which the House of the Faun.
I leave you with a thought ... Pompeii everyone leaves a lasting memory ... I, as I am a "damn" I can not stop associating the sound of a siren alarm was triggered in somewhere and who accompanied us and "gratified" by almost all the way ... where were the keys to get in and stop it?
