La dolce far niente
by Rich Olimpio · Published April 4, 2019 · Last modified December 22, 2020
The hill town of Gubbio is located in Umbria, not far from Perugia. It’s history pre-dates the Romans, being occupied as far back as the bronze age. There is a wonderful Funiva which will take you on a beautiful ride to the top of the mountain where the Basilica of Sant’Ubaldo is located. It is also host to the largest Christmas tree in the world. Another claim to fame for Gubbio is that the Italian television program Don Matteo –...
Amalfi Coast - Sorrento / Campania - Naples / Cities
by Rich Olimpio · Published July 11, 2019 · Last modified January 29, 2020
One of the most beautiful spots in Italy, at least in my opinion, the Amalfi coast is bounded on one end by Sorrento and the other end by Salerno. It is famous for the Amalfi coast road which hangs on the cliffs, providing a spectacular and a bit frightening view of the ocean. It is often very crowded and the ride can upset even the strongest stomach. I instead prefer the Traghetto or ferry which is a much smoother ride...
by Rich Olimpio · Published April 4, 2019 · Last modified January 23, 2022
High on the list of the many must-see sites in Italy, Pompeii provides a day in the life of a Roman town frozen in time. From Public spaces to living spaces Villas and Insulae ,to Baths to Food Spaces , to the haunting body casts and the tombs. Intriguing businesses such as the Fullery. The above picture is taken from the Forum facing the platform where the city temple to the gods was located(the six columns). Mount Vesuvius looms above...
Amalfi Coast - Sorrento / Campania - Naples / Cities
by Rich Olimpio · Published July 30, 2019 · Last modified December 19, 2020
Sorrento sits on the western end of the Amalfi coast overlooking the bay of Naples. It is a beautiful location on the top of a high cliff, filled with shops, restaurants and hotels, making it a favorite home base for touring southern Italy. there is easy access by boat to Naples or the amazing islands of Capri and Ischia. The towns of the Amalfi coast, Positano, Amalfi Maiori and Salerno. A train, the circumvesuviana, will take you to Pompeii and...
by Rich Olimpio · Published April 5, 2019 · Last modified December 19, 2020
Spectacular Island of Capri in the gulf of Naples. It was a favorite getaway for Roman emperors and remains a favorite of regular tourists and celebrities alike. Augustus, the first emperor had a villa here and his successor, Tiberius, who hated Rome and its politics, spent most of his reign here. It has remained a favorite vacation spot, with spectacular views of the bay of Naples, Mt. Vesuvius and the Mediterranean. City link below. The island is full of wonderful...
Amalfi Coast - Sorrento / Campania - Naples / Cities
by Rich Olimpio · Published July 10, 2019 · Last modified December 19, 2020
Amalfi Amalfi is the town for which the Amalfi Coast was named. At one time Amalfi was a major shipping port and controlled the entire coast. Flavio Gioia, traditionally considered the first to introduce the mariner’s compass to Europe, is said to have been a native of Amalfi. There is a small museum dedicated to navigation. A plague and tsunami in 1343 decimated the city and it was never able to recover. Ravello Located above Amalfi is the town of Ravello,...
Amalfi Coast - Sorrento / Campania - Naples / Cities
by Rich Olimpio · Published April 4, 2019 · Last modified February 1, 2022
Wonderful quiet Town at the edge of the Amalfi coast. I find it a relaxing, inexpensive and conveniently located. There are no great monuments or ruins to see in Salerno, however, There are a few things to see in Salerno, shown below. Salerno does have a regional train station with connections to all parts of Italy, Naples, Capri, Paestum. While it is not considered a part of the Amalfi coast, it is at the edge of the coastline and has...
by Rich Olimpio · Published April 7, 2019 · Last modified December 13, 2020
Paestum has Greek Temples as old as the Parthenon in Athens. The city was established here by the Greeks in the 7th century B.C. because of the access to the sea for trade and the wide fertile plain on which it rests. The remains of the city that surround the temples began as a Greek colony named Poseidonia, after the greek god Poseidon . It was conquered by the Lucanians and finally by the Romans who re-named it Paestum. The...
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