Lazio Things to Do Tips by unravelau

The Gulf of Gaeta

The Gulf of Gaeta as seen from the beautiful church S Francesco and beyond the lovely statue called The Religion by L Persico.

Address: Walk uphill on any staircase in the medieval area

Don't fish in Tiberius' cave, Sperlonga

I don't think that I have ever seen so many fish in the one place that weren't at the market and ready to be eaten. Visiting Tiberius' cave, Sperlonga was quite an experience for me. The cave is situated on the main road just a couple of kms from Sperlonga township, but shorter if you walk via the beach.

Address: Coastal road south of Rome.

Directions: About 1 hour drive south of Rome.

Website: http://www.comune.sperlonga.lt.it/

Still with Rome's museums

There is such a lot of history in the National Museum in Rome.

Address: Opposite Rome train terminal

Directions: Walk past the bus depot and carefully cross the road

Website: http://www.abcroma.com/Inglese/museonaz_i.htm

Tripping around the Museums of Rome

The National Museum of Rome would be a hard place to miss given that is centrally situated just across from the train terminal in Rome. The garden entry is an interesting place with an unusual fountain (shaped like a giant chalice) in the centre, which is surrounded by a host of sculptures, pots and burial containers.

Address: Piazza

Directions: Walk out of Rome station, straight past all of the busses and taxi rank.........be careful crossing the roads (very wide at this point). Have a cafe on the corner, very nice.

Website: http://www.abcroma.com/Inglese/museonaz_i.htm

Ok, so Mount Orlando might not be all that tall

from a distance, but when you are at the bottom and walking in ever decreasing circles along a rocky track (in some places), you feel like you might never reach the top.

There seem to be a number of roads all starting from different points but ultimately they meet at the mausoleum of Munazio Planco.

Don't overlook Gaeta .. look over the whole town

by walking up Mount Orlando and taking photographs looking back. It is a quite large township really.

Being creative and painting from nature.

Painting is something that I would love to be better at and when I first saw this view, I wondered if I could capture it on canvas.

The view is of the Gulf of Gaeta as seen from the top of Mount Orlando and I have had a number of attempts at recreating it. So far unsuccessful. I will copy it to here when and if I am ever successful.

Address: Top of Mount Orlando in Gaeta.

Directions: Head upwards from the bus terminus and you will eventually come to the top of the mountain. You can actually walk right around to get great shots of the coastline, Mediterranean, township etc........well worth the trip

Deserted medieval homes dot the route

A slow walk (I suggest down) off Mount Orlando Gaeta will afford you not only magnificent views of the Mediterranean but also of a range of ancient buildings falling into ruin. This one is almost just a pile of rocks now but you cant help but wonder at life in those times...........what a view.

Address: The older road on Mount Orlando

How can you navigate in Gaeta without a map?

This question has come up a number of times, i.e. people have mailed me and asked for a street map.

This morning I thought well, I know that I have one in amongst all of my information about Gaeta but it was a matter of locating it.

Anyway...........here it is. Now you will be able to locate all of the great historic sites too.

One of the churches in Rome with a special feeling

St. Clemente in Rome, is a most unusual church of many layers. I have asked questions and read various articles and know from this that there have been a number of churches on this same site and that access is available to some of those previous levels of church.

When I walked in I was overcome with some special feeling and just sat in the front pew and listened to the choir singing and soaked up the atmosphere. Very strange for me.

Address: Behind the Colosseum in Rome

Directions: From Rome station head toward the Colosseum and more or less behind it in line with Oriani Park.