Two more days before we head home. We had nothing planned so I arranged for a tour on our last day and kept Monday open. I had wanted to get a new wallet so I looked and found a leather worker who had a workshop near the Spanish Steps. We got a cab there, spent a little time with Armando Rioda, showed him what I had (which I like), he drew the "plans" and I ordered a wallet.
When left the leather workshop, we decided to stroll and window shop. We headed in the general direction of the hotel. I had "google maps" on my phone but that didn't help too much as I couldn't tell which direction I was supposed to go.
I had seen signs for an exhibit of invertions by Leonardo Da Vinci. It was in a "museum" close to the Campo Fiore which was not too far from our hotel. In fact we had passed the building when we were walking back to our hotel after dinner one night. So, we headed in that direction. We stopped for some lunch and then set off for the "museum". We only had a couple of miscues before we found the place. The exhibit has some small wooden replicas of a few of Leonardo's inventions. There is no question. He was a BRILLIANT man.
It's our last day and we are taking a tour to Castelli Romani, small hill towns a litte South of Rome. First stop is Frascati. Our driver let us out at the main square where we have an excellent view of Villa Aldobrandini. We did not visit the gardens as it appeared to be a little too difficult walking. Instead we strolled a block to another square where we saw the cathedral. There is a small park at the end of the main square where there is an excellent panoramic view of Rome.
These were too steep for us!
Our next stop was Castel Gandolfo. This is another small town in the Lazio region of Italy and is located on Lake Albano. The Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo is the Pope's summer residence. A ticket is needed to go into the palace and about the time we arrived they were closing for lunch. We strolled through the town square and down the short street to the lookout. It is a really beautiful spot.
While we were strolloing around the square and the overlook, our driver made a lunch reservation for us at a nearby restaurant. It was a GREAT way to end a WONDERFUL trip. The setting was beautiful and the food was excellent.
Granny at the lunch table overlooking the lake.
Our last stop was Nemi. Nemi is another small town in the Alban Hills and overlooks Lake Nemi. Among other things, the town is known for its strawberries. We walked the short block from where our driver parked into the market area. We didn't try the strawberries because we had jut had lunch and they only sold boxes of berries. However, we did get a bottle of strawberry jam.
It was time to head back to Rome, pack up and get ready for our early morning pickup. It was a wonderful trip.
ARRIVEDERCI
<- Overlooking Lake Nemi
We walked to that street. ->
