La dolce far niente
Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire before it was even an Empire. The city was founded as a settlement on the Palatine hill in the first half of the seventh century B.C. The Romans expanded, first in Italy, then throughout the mediterranean and as far as today’s England. The city of Rome remained the capital city until the Emperor Diocletian moved it to Mediolanum – today’s Milan – in 286 A.D. Today the planning for any building project...
Rocca Massima is a small hill town near Rome. Like so many of these wonderful towns it has been losing population for decades. At one time it was the home to people who worked on the farms in the valley below while enjoying the safety and warm breezes of living on a hill. There is no way for cars trucks or trains to climb the hill, so supplies are brought up by donkey to this day. As the jobs on...
by Rich Olimpio · Published April 4, 2019 · Last modified December 27, 2020
Spoleto is a hill town in Umbria, not Lazio like Rome, but it is just around an hour away by train. There are several Roman era sites and a large medieval castle, The Rocca Albornoziana, located at the top of the hill.
Orvieto is a hill town about an hour from Rome by train, making it an easy day trip. After arriving at the train station in the valley below the city, you cross the street to the delightful Funicular which takes you up the hill to the edge of the town. Cathedral As with most of the small hill towns throughout Italy, there is a large cathedral. It’s cornerstone was laid in 1290. It was during this time that the city...
Tivoli is just 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Rome, less than an hour by train. It was a favorite get away from Rome’s heat and squalor for the elite. Tivoli sits on a hill overlooking the plain below. The emperor Hadrian built his villa, which was more of a small city, on the plain just below the town and ruled from here when he was not touring the empire. The main site of this beautiful town is the Villa...
The Vatican, the center of the Roman Catholic church and the smallest sovereign country in the world. St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s square sit at the center of the city-state, but churches and catacombs around Rome are considered church property. The most significant of the churches are the four Papal Basilicas, San Giovanni in Laterano, St. Peter’s, San Paolo Fuoiri Le Mura and Santa Maria Maggiore. The Vatican by night Christmas season 2018 Each year a presepio, or nativity...
by Rich Olimpio · Published January 7, 2020 · Last modified August 24, 2021
If Rome is ancient history, Florence is the renaissance. The renaissance was born here, the most important figures of the this era were from here or worked here. Michelangelo, Galileo, DaVinci to name a few. The Arno river runs through the heart of the city, separating the city into two parts. The Medici family controlled Florence for 150 years. On Easter Sunday 1478, Lorenzo de’Medici and his brother Giuliano were attacked in the Duomo in what is known as the...
by Rich Olimpio · Published April 8, 2019 · Last modified February 4, 2021
Fiesole is a small town on the hill above Florence. Settled by the Etruscans and later taken over by the Romans. After the Romans took over the area and founded Florence in the valley below, Fiesole became a favorite place to get away from the heat and ciaos of Florence. In the middle ages, Wealthy and powerful families built villas in Fiesole. There is a Medici villa at the edge of town built in the 1450s. This custom continues through...
by Rich Olimpio · Published April 4, 2019 · Last modified August 9, 2022
Contona is a wonderful Tuscan hill town about an hour and a half from Florence by train. Note that the train station is at the town of Camucia in the valley below Cortona – a bus takes you up into Cortona. As was the case for many cities in this part of Italy, it was originally settled by the Etruscans and later taken over by the Romans. We were there in early December, so Christmas season was well under way....
Bologna is the capital city of Umbria, in north central italy. It has a history which goes back to the Etruscans and continues with the Romans. One of it’s greatest claims is that it is the home of the oldest University, The University of Bologna, founded in 1080 A.D. The city is also known for it’s porticos throughout the city. Archiginnasio and Teatro Anatomico The Archiginnasio is part of the University of Bologna. It has the characteristic porticos of Bologna...
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