Weekend in Tuscia This time I give the task of writing a travel guide to Simon, the following is all of his flour sack!
October 2, 2009 - 10:00
Almost everything is ready for the weekend to surprise. Yes, I organized this tour I our small little holiday out of town. Obviously I
detecting Mauro on the details ... eheheh! After
stuck to tetris the suitcase, bags, maps, top-secret (usually I get lost everywhere) and the packets that my boyfriend absolutely can not see until tomorrow, I start with my blue fireball, obviously with about 20 minutes late, and I'm going to get out of bed the engineer. He will have slept less than hoped, but it is worth it!
After about 4 hours away 2 full of gas, we arrive in the province of Viterbo and our first target: Villa Lante in Bagnaia.
A brief history: we are talking about a beautiful villa from the late fifteenth century, the summer residence of the bishops of the city, Cardinal Gambara transformed in 1566 into one of the most fascinating gardens.
What attracts Villa Lante is the predominance of the garden from the buildings. What are the masters are in fact the Italian garden and the water that runs through the whole building with a series of fountains,
chains of water
jets, small waterfalls
and ponds.
will find very interesting to read the symbolism of the architecture on this site ... but nothing is better than a "jump" in those parts. The script does not do justice to the atmosphere that reigns over the small hill. After about 2 hours to visit and 67 photos, a little 'sorry to leave the romance of Villa and the particular center of Bagnaia, we reside there by car to reach our second goal, this one a surprise: the baths !
After having attended several in the area of \u200b\u200bTuscany, we had proposed to try the baths free from Lazio. Throw an eye on the site www.termelibere.it !
Actually I had so many listings in the province of Viterbo Pools ... Carletti, Bagnaccio, Bullicame ... all depended on what I should be able to find
... It was not easy to trace, since it is free that are not marked as paid nearby. But by the smell of rotten eggs, the ruins of Roman thermal and, more or less, driving directions printed from the Internet, we managed to reach our second target: Pools Carletti.
The spa is located about 2.5 km from the center of Viterbo, on the convergence of Spa Road with the road Tuscanese (So \u200b\u200bsay the signs). Good advice: if you find many cars parked on the side of the road and people passing through in costume and towel on their way to an empty field, it means that you have found the baths. Carletti
Pools consist of two springs that come out at a temperature of about 58 ° and feed several pools, different temperatures. As a destination for many tourists and Viterbo, the area is very busy, but there is room for everyone. If you want some 'peace of mind you will need to avoid the puddles in the spring and follow the Roman aqueduct from the raised concretions sulfur 
and reach the other two tanks, much more large.
course, the one closest to the source is warmer, the next is far ... freeze! Good to try but in the summer.
Please note that parking near the pool is not secure but is very close to the sources. There are no toilets and no night lighting. If you then decide to try a night swim, bring a source of internal light.
Mauro was impressed by the place, too bad if I had warned before leaving would bring at least one costume and a towel. He seemed disappointed by the prospect of leaving this water captivating without being able to make at least a little grebe. And the idea of swim naked did not like it so much. Ma .. tada! From my magic car start to appear the first surprise packages! A man costume, a towel and a pair of slippers! I've thought of everything ... We immediately launched into undressing and in less than no time we were in the water, surrounded by mud and sulfur. Mauro has had the courage to smear the greenish ooze and stinky (which did not say what it smelled) all over his body and face.
Not a wash of rose water and milk we would come back smelling, but it is too relaxing and fun. We really wanted to! At 17
decide it's time to go out, dry them to reach The B & B I had booked. I warned that Mauro was not anything that only a modest shelter for a night (eheh!).
After shooting a couple of times the village of San Martino and Cimino to be stuck in narrow streets is our object! I have to tell the truth, looking at the website I had not made full account of the beauty of B & B " Luca La Torre."
The house is built along the town walls on two levels. E 'warm and special. The finishes are all hand-made wooden and brick walls are rough. A real treat! On the first floor, a little cozy bedroom, a fully equipped kitchen with fireplace, bathroom with shower and access through a glass door to a fantastic garden inhabited by polite cats.
Upstairs master bedroom with a fantastic atmosphere for a thousand and one night ... would have been ours!
Council to all you who pass by that part of having to drop by the tranquility of the place, the hospitality and helpfulness of the owner and the price that is accessible to all budgets.
stomach began to be felt. After a refreshing shower, we head towards the center of Viterbo, "The Inn at the old clock." A very beautiful, romantic and not very large, then a little confusing. Excellent local cuisine, attention to detail but not just economic. Do not miss the pasta ragout of quinine and Rostino pork with baked potatoes Paraculo. Wide choice of wines also.
After dinner we devote just two steps to the town since it is very cold. The visit will be more careful the next day. I found a couple of things that I would not want to miss Viterbo.
October 3, 2009 After a lovely breakfast and a little 'game with the cats in the house (a lot of fun!)
reloaded the car and go to Viterbo center.
Viterbo is a characteristic medieval town, whose walls still well preserved go back to the Etruscans.
" city of art, history, traditions, crossed by the Via Francigena, full of palaces, churches, towers, medieval quarters, Viterbo is defined in the City of Popes, as the host since the thirteenth century, various popes here resided for stays more or less short "
entered one of many doors, we immerse ourselves almost immediately in a pleasant atmosphere of the medieval quarter of San Pellegrino, the historic center and heart of the city, one of the most intact d ' Europe. It 'a real jewel of the district thirteenth century, full of charm and appeal, made up of narrow streets, fountains, arches, squares, houses of the period and typical "profferli which constitute a unique example of high artistic value.
As we read on the guide "The district is often driven by markets, antique, floral, folk festivals, street level environments are largely occupied by art shops, antique shops, eateries, cultural halls. "
Too bad there are markets and festivals in these two days, but the inn where we tried it and it was delicious! A simple tasty sandwich with salami, ham and cheese instead. A real treat for our taste ... requiring a nice drink of cool water!
Our walk continues towards the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Unfortunately it is closed. Next to it is the Papal Palace, built in the second half of 1200 to protect the pontiff.
The structure of the lodge, formed in one side of seven arches supported by slender twin columns that intersect to form an elegant entablature, is beautiful.
Half day is very little to visit the city of Viterbo, but I'd like to see another location before returning home: the Spa Bagnaccio. It is a free spa area includes a variety of sources hyperthermal (65 ° C) and hypo (23 ° -29 ° C). The Bagnaccio is in open countryside in a small white Martana not obvious between the road and the Road Castiglionese. You lose all hope of finding signs. You can at most groped to ask passersby. However, looking on virtual maps of the Internet, I can tell you to head to Via Garinei. You will notice, however, be close to the spa when you see the Roman ruins here. In the vicinity there are no accommodation facilities, bars and restaurants. But there is a shopping center on the Cassia Road North. The Bagnaccio has five tanks of various sizes. Too bad that today some of them are without water spa. The place is normally travel at high frequency. Not go unnoticed by the dozens of campers and cars parked next to the spa.
Since the place is full of swimmers, we decide to head back toward the swimming Carletti for a last swim. And then, back home and relax ... no perfume, no scented!
would have been great to see Civita di Bagnoregio, a village perched on a rocky promontory and surrounded by ravines.
But time is running out, it will be for next weekend!
