One fine day (or two)

 

“Then before my eyes, is standing still

I beheld it there, a city on a hill”

- David Byrne, One Fine Day

 

I think it’s safe to say we finally got this trip dialed in. We figured out how to avoid the overly touristy sites, manage the heat, and get our pace right to not drive anyone to a breakdown.

 

Yesterday we saw the Catacombs of San Callixtus on the Appian Way. Because Christianity was still illegal, the early Christians needed to bury their dead outside of the city and did so in an intricate system of underground crypts. Several of the early popes were buried there. It’s an incredible site with the added bonus of being a cool 40° underground. No joke, people were wearing coats.

 

Nearby is the site of the Ardeatine Massacre where the Nazis ruthlessly slaughtered 335 civilians in Italy in response to Italian resistance attacks. The memorial to the outrageous act is somber and worth the walk across the street.

 

We ended with a lovely stroll through Trastevere, including some great views of Rome and ended with gelato. There are few things better,

 

Today was our second and final day trip from Rome, this one to Orvieto. A new site for us, the city on the hill in Umbria delivered more than we expected. An incredible duomo, some amazing porchetta, and plenty of shade with a breeze. I have no idea why there was a lion mascot on our train home, but it seemed to be a fitting end,

No pictures were allowed inside, but here’s proof the catacombs were underground

A somber site of 335 dead civilians

Not Trevi Fountain. More importantly, not crowded.

A view of Rome from Trastevere

Tiber at night

What a duomo in Orvieto

The paintings in the duomo are said to be inspiration for Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel

Orvieto on a July weekend. Note how beautiful and how it’s not crowded.

Orvieto from above.

Why is there a Lion mascot onboard, and why aren’t these people more excited about it!?