Italy - Day Twenty Six Ostia

Italy - Day 26

To leave or not - well, we planned to depart Rome for the USA today. Oh well - the pagan gods decided to give us another day. Some of the day distractions were fun - although most were extremely painful. If you have ever been delayed in a foreign country and unable to understand the language - then you completely understand our experience. Barbara's flight to NYC took off safely. The rest of us - well, we got an unplanned day and night in the beach front city of Ostia. Not bad - had the process been smoother and swifter.

Italy - Day Twenty Five Dinner

Famous - popular - friendly - all describe the Antica Pizzeria Ricci or more commonly called Est Est Est. While this isn't a thin crust Napoli pizza (my personal favorite) the pies are delicious and well worth a nibble.

Italy - Day Twenty Five

It is true. No matter how much research or planning - the best part of any trip is the unexpected discoveries. This trip hasn't been any different.

It isn't a long list (I can say that since I did most of the party planning for my 5oth Birthday) - still a few surprises were found along the way.

Today - Museo Nazionale Romano - only a few steps from the IQhotel. This museum isn't to be missed. It stores a delightful collection of antiquities.

Italy - Day Twenty Three Dinner

World famous Filippo la Mantia at the Hotel Majestic at via Veneto 50 is our stop for tonight's dinner. The service here is beyond belief. Trust me, I love good service and this is record-breaking service.

Italy - Day Twenty Four Villa D'Este

Italy - Day Twenty Four Hadrian's Villa

Italy - Day Twenty Four

Today is July 4th for Italians. And - it is the 150 anniversary of the celebration of Italy's unification.

As North Americans - we have accidentally stumbled upon an important day in Italy. Luckily - we picked the perfect day to escape the city's street closures and military parades for our journey outside the city to the town of Tivoli.

Tivoli is home to Hadrian's Villa (similar to Versailles outside of Paris) and the more modern Villa d'Este. Our docent Diane Archibald from Context Travel and driver met us in the IQhotel lobby. We decided the extra expense was necessary to streamline the day in Tivoli which is located about 1 hour outside of Rome.

Hadrian - a self proclaimed architect - created an incredible city villa outside of Rome (118 -134 AD). I can only imagine the problems created by over 1 million people living in Rome during those times - I'd escape also!

Hadrian's design would please almost every contemporary 'green' urban planner today. His city villa did not have streets (well, at least above ground as passages were all below ground). His palaces (summer and winter) were designed using the natural landscape and features.

Villa D'Este (1509 to 1572) provides a modern (well, kind of) example of Hadrian's city villa. This place is simply outrageous. It provides us a glimpse into how the other Roman ruins would be - when brought to life. These rulers lived in grand style - no doubt about it.

Italy - Day Twenty Three Dinner

If you watching Conde Nast Travel magazine Hot List - you have seen the new hotel Forty-Seven in Rome. The rooftop restaurant Circus offers some beautiful views of the city, temples and sunset (if your timing is right).

The chef offers some creative and good food here. Beware - the service didn't match the rest of the venue. Clearly some training and supervision needed to help the otherwise overwhelmed wait staff.

Italy - Day Twenty Three Ostia Antica (Cont.)

Ostia @ Work -

First a few examples of marble carving and preparation. This column's surface is being fixed by implants of smaller pieces.

Below is a column where the implants have been lost.

This marble stone is set for cutting to make veneers to surface buildings.

This is a grain mill for grinding grain into flour. These mills used donkeys, not slaves.

These are bowls for mixing flour into batter for baking. Next door are large ovens to bake the batter into bread.

Italy - Day Twenty Three Ostia Antica (Cont.)

Ostia's famous black and white mosaic floors make the trip, heat and walk all worth it.

Italy - Day Twenty Three Ostia Antica

Italy - Day Twenty Three

Ostia Antica began as a fortress to protect Rome. It is located at the mouth of the Tiber river as it flows from the Mediterranean sea.

Ostia's salt marshes lead to its initial wealth. Later Ostia would become the main port for Rome. Ships would transport their loads into warehouses located in Ostia.

Ostia had huge warehouses for grain needed to feed the 1 million people living in Rome. It is easy to understand how one failed shipment could send the city into turmoil.

As Rome prospered - so did Ostia. It grew into a major port city with public buildings and temples.

Mussolini brought Ostia to light quickly ignoring most of the archeology principles and much of the information was lost in the feverish work from 1938 to 1942. It was rumored Mussolini wanted the site uncovered for the world-fair which never took place.

Ostia's success ultimately lead to its demise. The need for a modern port lead to the creation of Portus by Claudius and later Trajan (103 AD). For 400 years, a canal from the new port provided shipment of goods from all over the Empire to Rome.

Ostia slowly faded until vacated in the 9th century.

Our docent Livia Galante from Context Travel was brilliant. She steered us clear of the crowds (mainly children) and showed us the highlights of the excavation. Ostia is a big place so be ready to make some choices when visiting this wonderful site.

Saint Mary and the Angels

https://vr.shapeservices.com/listen.php?hash=6e353617f2b2d9065270279f8afa78ee28e89fcc204192ce3

We stumbled onto this concert of Saint Mary and the Angels.

Italy

Too many days have passed without my finding time to post to my blog.

Needless to say - we are overwhelmed in Rome. A blur. Days Nineteen to Twenty-Three. We have roamed the streets of Roma. We look for places on the maps held in our hands and continue to get lost over and over. It has become a game and amuses us [well, most of the time].

Five Days. All gone in a flash. I can hardly believe it. My cup is full. No - it runs over. There is too much to see and do in Roma. It an impossible decision to choose and I can't decide how to spend my few remaining moments.

Despite my best intentions - my writing has all but disappeared. I rise set to complete the day's planned itinerary and return spent. It is lovely. It is overpowering. I am happy here. My body is sore, my mind awake and my spirit alive.

And - my blog is filled with promises of more to come and reflections of my days in Roma.