More Waiting = More Exploring!

While waiting patiently for the mechanic to complete the work on our electric engines, we made good use of the extra time and explored more of the area.

On March 30 we caught the train from Ostia to Rome for some shopping, and discovered a small museum off the beaten path.

The Historical Museum of Liberation in Rome is housed in the former headquarters of the Gestapo when the Germans occupied Italy during WWII. One room is dedicated to the 335 Italian citizens, aged 14 to 75, who were executed by Nazis in the Ardeatine Caves. These people were killed as a reprisal to 33 German soldiers who died in an attack by Patriotic Action Groups. Other rooms were used as cells for prisoners, and preserved with graffiti from that time. There are other sections containing pamphlets and newspapers printed by the Resistance, and also posters put up by the Nazis telling the population what they could and could not do.

It is a part of WWII that Italians are very proud of, and it was moving to see the images of the many Resistance supporters and what they went through during the Nazi occupation.

Food card, bread line, and picture after the bombing of Castel Gandolfo by the Allies.

There is a preserved loaf of bread, carved with a final message from Italian officer and Resistance leader Ignazio Vian to his family. He was arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and eventually executed by the Germans in 1944. He was 27 years old.

"He hides while the invader destroys the Homeland" and

"Italy cannot be saved by discussions!"

Orvieto

April 5th we hopped another train and headed about 50 miles north of Rome, to the clifftop town of Orvieto. From the train station we rode the funicular up to the top.

The Albornoz Fortress was built around 1364, and provides majestic views of the Paglia river valley below. Portions of the massive city walls can still be seen.

We walked down a nice path to an ancient necropolis at the bottom of the cliffs. The views from the path were beautiful. Lots of colorful flowers, olive trees loaded with black olives, and some tiny succulents peeking out of the rocks.

There is a small museum near the tombs containing items recovered from the many gravesites.

The tombs date back to the 5th century BC. You can see inscriptions carved above the entrance on many of the tombs.

This is a view of the fortress from below.

After enjoying a cold beverage at a small cafe, we hiked back up to the center of town and strolled around the cobblestone streets.

The cathedral ('duomo') is beautiful - built using the same two-tone marble in a striped pattern as the churches we visited in Milan and Sienna.

Rome

On Palm Sunday, we decided to return to Rome for some sight-seeing. We visited the Pantheon, which was built by the Roman emperor Hadrian in AD 113 - 125. The current building resides on the site of an ancient temple that was destroyed by fire. It was consecrated as a Christian church in AD 609, and is currently used as a Catholic church.

The rotunda is famously known as the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. The oculus at the top is open and provides ventilation and natural light. The portico out front is enormous, and the bronze doors, the oldest in Rome, measure 14.6 ft wide by 24.7 ft high.

The interior has several small chapels, with sculptures and paintings everywhere.

Many famous people are buried here, including the painter Rafael, composers, architects, and two kings of Italy. This building holds so much history and amazing features, if you have a chance it is well worth a visit.

We then walked past the Trevi Fountain, which was dry and closed for renovation, but still packed with tourists. We climbed the famous Spanish Steps (also packed with people), and the view from the top was worth the climb.

We met an American sailing couple from Phoenix who had their catamaran Zoe at the same boatyard in Ostia. Dan and Robyn have been sailing in the Med over the last 8 years. They spend their winters in Arizona, and much of the spring/summer/fall sailing. We enjoyed sundowners with them a couple of times, and they had lots of great stories and advice for us. Their boat was put in the water a couple of days before us, and they sailed away toward their next destination. We hope our paths cross again as we continue traveling in this part of the world.

I borrowed this great photo of them on Robyn's birthday from Dan's FB page:

Tivoli

Tivoli, viewed from Hadrian's Villa

After a couple of days working on the boat's solar panel wiring, we climbed aboard our favorite train on Easter Sunday and traveled northeast past Rome to the city of Tivoli. We stayed at a small hotel near the train station, and caught a local bus to see the Villa Adriana, or Hadrian's Villa. The Roman emperor Hadrian had the villa built during his reign in the 2nd century AD. The site is huge, around 200 acres, and there are many buildings and features surrounded by gardens and terraces.

On Tuesday April 22nd they were finally able to lift the boat into the river. Sunspot Baby had been sitting on the hard for almost 6 months, since October 2024. We were all very happy to be back in the water!

We spent one more night on the Tiber River.

Said goodbye to our neighbor the swan,

and left bright and early the next morning, making our way south toward the island of Ponza.

My next post will pick up in Ponza, as we make our way further south along the Amalfi Coast.

Ciao for now!!