Viterbo is about an hour from Rome--a train ride from Vatican area station. The guide book said Viterbo is the best example of a walled, medieval city left in Italy (for it's size). Looks like the Land of Romeo and Juliet, doesn't it? It was magical; clean, very little trash and graffiti; not very crowded on this cool May Friday.
They produce wonderful ceramics here in Viterbo. A local friend from our home town spent 2 years learning and teaching mosaics here. Beautiful stuff.
The city sponsors a major religious event in September (next week, actually) Feast of Santa Rosa. Crowds will arrive for that! The men of the town carry a huge towering structure through the streets, in honor of the sweet Saint of Medieval times, whose shrine is in the town. Sometimes, there are accidents while the structure is being transported. People have died!
But not today. We strolled away the day. Every alley and court yard contained an architectural wonder, great and small.
Not much graffiti but evocative walks, courts and passages all over town. Many Italian and international films are made here.
Charm abounds. Look at that sweet bell tower. And my favorite everywhere: hearing the genuine, old fashion or ancient church bells tolling the hours. Loved that so much.
Dripping with antique wonder. The people we see here today are tourists, mostly. Or locals like the nun? Who would we have seen 500 years ago? What would they have done? Worked hard, probably.
The next couple of posts will show more of this wonderful town. So glad we could visit!
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