The third largest amphitheater in Italy is 40 minutes or so on a train from Naples. On the day I went, there was one other tourist. Imagine, an amphitheater with zero queues! The largest amphitheater is of course the Coliseum in Rome. Think insane queues but magnificent. The second biggest is in Capua. Think Spartacus. The… Read More An Amphitheater, a Super-volcano and a Vial of Blood.
I’ve dug out a post from my visit in 2018 out of shock and sadness for what has occurred on Ischia this week. Sending love and best wishes to the impacted locals. The Romans called it Aenaria, Virgil named it Inarime, we call it Ischia. In late May this year I took a day trip… Read More Sending Love to Ischia: Repost from Ischia visit in 2018.
In November 2015 I took the train from Naples to Caserta to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta which had been built to house the Bourbon Kings of Naples. It was a beautiful and restful outing. What I had not realised at the time is that I was visiting an infamous area to Italians. Caserta… Read More Toxic
Italy is brimming with religious iconry, churches, crosses and monuments to faith. I have no real Catholic background to draw from so much of it all is mysterious and novel for me. I am deeply moved by Italians connection to Mary. I have been to many churches from Palermo to Milan and places in between.… Read More Finding the veiled Christ in Italy
Italy has so much history, so many sites to preserve and excavate further that it is a burden as well as a blessing. And they discover more regularly. Digging a metro station or even a garden can result in discoveries that will require costly preservation and hold ups. Culture is Italy’s natural resource, … home… Read More Too Much Heritage
Pompei is way bigger than I had realised, it is not a village but a city. It is very easy to get to Pompeii on the train. The circumvesuviana train line between Sorrento and Naples has a stop practically by the main entrance. I paid €4.70 for the train from Sorrento and €11.00 entrance fee. I didn’t… Read More Pompeii
Choosing accommodation is always a bit of a punt but it’s a whole nother ballgame staying in Italy’s religious accommodation. I had thought it would be a wise thing to do, being a woman travelling alone, trying to keep costs down and for finding like-minded travelers. (See my post, ‘Happy, Cheap & Rich in Culture’, for… Read More Convent & Monastery Stays Can Be Hell
My gorgeous husband bought me a very old book about Italy from the opportunity shop. I have had a bit of fun comparing pictures of some sites I visited against how they looked over 90 years ago. My beautiful book: ‘Wonders of Italy’. (Italy for the Tourist Series): The Monuments of Antiquity, the Churches, the… Read More Italian Timelessness
It’s November and I take the train from Naples. The Reggia and its 120 ha of land is across the road from the station so there are no challenges finding it. I walk across the Piazza which clearly has the bones of a formal garden with boxed hedging but has been let go. The grasses… Read More Reggia Di Caserta
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Woman travelling solo through the world and life.
History. Art. Culture. Travel. Italy
Brisbane, Bagni di Lucca and everything in between
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Cultural travel on a budget
Formerly GoodDayRome
Exploring my grandparent's region of Abruzzo - and more of Italy
An Englishman and an Italian / English Dictionary
Let's recollect our emotions in tranquillity
Classics, Ancient History, Linguistics, Academia and more
Life in small-town central Italy
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