We came, we saw, we Romed

Over half term, a party of 37 set off for Italy on the biggest Classics trip yet. Arriving in Rome late on Sunday afternoon, we had time to settle before heading off to our restaurant for our first taste of a Roman cena (served by ‘Super Mario’ and his team!). After supper, exploration began, with a walk to the Trevi fountain before our first ice-creams of the trip. Monday turned out to be extremely cold but we soon warmed up with a climb to the top of St Peter’s dome for a view out over the city. The afternoon was spent strolling through the city streets, visiting the Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and Trajan’s Column, along with various churches, ice-cream parlours and souvenir shops. Indeed, shopping was soon to become a theme of the trip, with several members of the party clearly experienced in the retail outlet world. We then stopped off at St Peter’s in Chains to admire Michelangelo’s Moses before enjoying another excellent authentic Italian meal at our restaurant. The evening trip this time was to the very chilly Spanish steps, with the walk home taking in a number of Bernini’s finest fountains.

Carrying on the shopping theme, Tuesday began with a visit to Trajan’s markets, with a quick stop over at Santa Maria Maggiore on the way. Trajan’s Markets are now fully open and the party spent much of the morning exploring the vast semi-circular complex set out over 3 levels. With the sun to warm us and the fantastic forum views to enjoy, this was a particular highlight of this half of the trip. From one forum to another, via Michelangelo’s Campidoglio, we were soon looking over the heart of ancient Rome, pausing only to spend a few minutes in the Mamertine prison, temporary ‘home’ of both St Paul and St Peter. The jumble of ruins that is the forum is always full of atmosphere and we enjoyed our stroll in the sun. Leaving the forum, we were straight into the Colosseum for a full tour of this vast amphitheatre. Even then the day was not over, with the chance to go down not one but two levels under St Clemente church to streets over 2 thousand years old. Finally, we enjoyed a wander through one of the many parks of Rome, looking in on Nero’s Golden House as we passed and the fine mosaics in Santa Prasade. The evening walk took us to Piazza della Republica for a distant look at the vast baths of Diocletian before heading back to our hotel for packing.

Wednesday was on us before we knew it and the journey south to Sorrento, breaking the journey at Capua to see the second largest amphitheatre in Italy. Before supper, there was just time for a first chance to shop in Sorrento and then, after, our now customary visit to the roof of our hotel for a view across the Bay of Naples by night. Thursday brought some cloudy skies but spirits were not dampened as we headed for a full day in Pompeii. No-one could fail to be impressed by this enormous living museum but it was especially exciting to find a number of houses open which have been closed for many years. That evening, an impromptu ‘concert party’ developed and we were all much entertained by the various spontaneous talent spots (and I use the term ‘talent’ lightly in some cases!). By Friday, the weather was starting to pick up and we all very much enjoyed our visit to Herculaneum, so much smaller than Pompeii and therefore much easier to explore fully. From there, we travelled to Oplontis and the villa (palace, perhaps?) of the family of Poppaea, wife of the emperor Nero, with its endless rooms of the finest decoration, its numerous gardens and its huge (and slightly mystifying) ‘swimming pool’. After another chance to shop and probably the finest ice-cream of the trip, the evening brought talent show number 2, for which many had been preparing all day. Highlights for many were, I’m sure, the wetting of staff by Mrs Bennett and various boys parading in a fashion show.

The weekend brought a change in pace, with a boat trip to sunny Capri and a chance for a swim in the sea and some beach volleyball. In the afternoon, we headed off to see a most impressive limestone arch and a natural grotto carved out of the rock. With another visit to the roof to admire our surroundings in the evening, this was yet one more packed and exciting day. Sunday was technically the end of the trip but the late flight from Naples effectively gave us a whole ‘bonus’ day. With full sunshine now, we began with a stroll down from our hotel to the Villa of Pollio Felix, built out over the rocks at the foot of the cliff and commanding the most fantastic views across the sea. After a coach journey to Naples, we then stopped off to go inside the sulphur-filled volcano crater at Solfatara. Still not done, we popped to Pozzuoli and the third largest amphitheatre in Italy, this time with the chance to explore all the tunnels underneath which once provided access for the many gladiators and wild animals which fought there. Still the trip was not over, with a spare half hour to visit the treasure-filled Naples museum and see some of the finest mosaics. With time for one more fine Italian meal at a local restaurant, we were soon on our way to the airport and the journey home and the end of another packed trip.

Tags: Classics, Visits

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