 |
| water fountain, Vitorchiano |
Rome residents and visitors have traditionally used a series of “free days “ in April (April 21-Birthday of Rome, April 25th - Liberation Day and May 1st –Workers’ Day) to create mini-vacations known as ponti.
The cloud-laden skies and sudden showers of the past weeks have made it difficult, however, to travel without an umbrella.
Rain or shine, grab an umbrella, your walking shoes and take a day trip to one of these special places near Viterbo and Rome.
The first and easiest outing, is to Centro Botanico Moutan, a private
garden open to the public in April and May.
Acres of magnificent Chinese peonies extend over the hillsides, delighting the senses .
 |
| Lorenza, Fabio, Letizia, Fulvio & Carla |
The Centro Botanico offers free entry and guided tours plus a colorful, relaxing café and bookshop .
It is a perfect place to relax, drink in the beauty and perfumes of thousands of
flowering shrubs and find inspiration for garden design.
The owners produce a line of garden furniture as well as an array of beauty products and perfumes made from the peony flowers.
 |
| The colorful cafe at the peony gardens |
If you can
find a place to park near Vitorchiano’s centro storico, take advantage and plunge into the Middle Ages with a walk among the 12th century buildings of the intact medieval town, historically
allied to Rome and enemies of nearby Viterbo.
 |
| charming medieval streets of Vitorchiano |
 |
| bell tower of the City Hall |
Be sure you take the new elevator to the upper part of town and visit the Orsini Palace.
 |
| the urban elevator of Bomarzo |
For intrepid explorers there is even an Etruscan pyramid.
This itinerary has an Indiana Jones level of difficulty- more arduous than the Etruscan sites of Grotta Porcina and Norchia in nearby Vetralla.
 |
| Salvatore our guide to the pyramid |
A local guide who knows the intricate paths in the thick woods is a must.
We were lucky to be accompanied by Salvatore, who helped archeologists recuperate the sacred Etruscan site.
It had been used as shelter by generations of local farmers but was unknown to scholars until recently .
 |
| Pro loco office in Bomarzo |
A further
reason to visit Bomarzo is the Festival dedicated to Sant’Anselmo, the town’s patron, on April 25th .
Festivities include a palio horse race, and distribution of the traditional sweet bread, Biscotto di Sant Anselmo.
 |
| rock formations |
For in town exploration, you can follow in the footsteps of the group of young law students from 17 different countries who visited Vetralla this week for an end-of-course outing .
 |
| Bill and students in Checco Lallo's workshop-cave |
 |
| Entrance to potter's cave , wearing the ancient apron |
 |
| students from Liberia and other countries |
Besides learning about the city’s English connections, they visited the cave-like pottery workshop of Checco Lallo, which has remained untouched over the centuries.
 |
| Christian gets a lesson from Francesco |
Francesco, the last of the Vetralla potters' dynasty known as Checco Lallo, showed them the traditional craft of pottery.
They celebrated the end of their course of studies with an evening dedicated to good food, music and the hospitality of a town with a long, intricate history.
|
International law students visiting in Vetralla
|
