Catacombs of Rome

One of the tours I am very excited about is the Catacomb & Crypt tour we are signed up for in Rome. This was one area I did not get to see in 2005 and I find it totally fascinating! I know I probably gave you too much information here, (sorry about that) but it was very interesting. Follow the link at the end if you want more information. Ciao for now!

The Catacombs of Rome are ancient catacombs, or underground burial places under or near Rome, Italy, of which there are at least forty, some discovered only in recent decades. Though most famous for Christian burials, they include pagan and Jewish burials, either in separate catacombs or mixed together. They began in the 2nd century, as much as a response to overcrowding and shortage of land as they were to satisfy the need for persecuted Christians to bury their dead secretly. The soft volcanic tufo rock under Rome is highly suitable for tunneling, as it is softer when first exposed to air, hardening afterwards. Many have kilometers of tunnels, in up to four stories (or layers).

The Catholic catacombs are extremely important for the

art history of early Christian art, as they contain the great majority of examples from before about 400 CE, in fresco and sculpture. The Jewish catacombs are similarly important for the study of Jewish art at this period.

The catacombs are made up of underground tunnels in the form of a labyrinth. They can reach the total number of many miles. In the tufaceous walls of this intricate system of galleries were cut out rows of rectangular niches, called "loculi", of various dimensions, which could contain only one body, but not infrequently the remains of more than one person. The burials of the early Christians were extremely poor and simple. The corpses, in imitation of Christ, were wrapped in a sheet or shroud and placed in the loculi without any kind of coffin. The loculi were closed with a slab of marble or, in most cases, by tiles fixed by mortar. On the tombstone the name of the deceased was sometimes engraved, along with a Christian symbol or a wish that the person might find peace in heaven. Oil lamps and small vases containing perfumes would often be placed beside the tombs.
The structure of the tombs, arranged in rows superimposed one upon another at different levels, gave one the idea of a vast dormitory, called cemetery, a term coming from Greek and meaning "resting place". In this way the Christians wanted to affirm their faith in the resurrection of the bodies.

The ancient Christians did not use the term "catacomb". This is a word of Greek origin, meaning "near the hollow". The Romans applied it to a locality on the Appian Way, where there were caves for the removal of tuff blocks. Nearby were dug the catacombs of Saint Sebastian. In the ninth century the term was extended to all cemeteries, with the specific sense of underground cemetery.

http://www.catacombe.roma.it/en/intro.html

Only 3 more days to go!

Busy packing...the cats are happy to help! :-)

Gnocchi

Gnocchi will be something we will find on most restaurant menus. Like pasta - what makes it is the sauce. Here at home, I found it in the freezer section of Meijers and then made a cheese sauce to go over it...very good!

Gnocchi (pronounced [ˈnɒki] or in Italian /ɲɔkːi/; singular gnocco) is the Italian name for a variety of thick, soft noodle or dumpling. They may be made from semolina, ordinary wheat flour, potato, bread crumbs, or similar ingredients.

The word gnocchi means "lump", and comes from nocchio, a knot in the wood.[1] It’s been a traditional Italian pasta type of probably Middle Eastern origin since Roman times[2] (Imperium Romanum). It was introduced by the Roman Legions during the enormous expansion of the empire into the countries of the European continent. In the past 2000 years each country developed its own specific type of small dumplings, with the ancient Gnocchi as their common ancestor. In Roman times, gnocchi were made from a semolina porridge-like dough mixed with eggs, and are still found in similar forms today, particularly in Sardinia (where they do not contain egg, however, and are known as malloreddus). One variety, gnocchi di pane (literally bread noodles), is made from bread crumbs and is popular in Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. Another variety from Trentino-Alto Adige/Sudtirol is spinach gnocchi, called strangolapreti. This translates to "choke the priest." The use of potato is a relatively recent innovation, occurring after the introduction of the potato to Europe in the 16th century.[3]

Gnocchi are eaten as entrées (primi piatti) in Italy or as alternatives to minestre ("soups") or pasta.

Gnocchi are widely available dried, frozen, or fresh in vacuum sealed packages in supermarkets and Italian specialty stores. Classic accompaniments of gnocchi include tomato sauces, pesto, and melted butter (sometimes fried butter) with cheese.

Limoncello

I tried Limoncello in 2005 and it is delicious! It is much like a spiked lemon-aid. I've made it at home - you take the rinds of 10 lemons and soak them in vodka for 14 days, add another pint of vodka and a simple syrup made from sugar and water and let it set for another 14 days. Remove the lemon rinds and strain the drink - it is ready to be either bottled and/or served - though I found it is even better if you let it sit in the refrigerator for another month or so...it becomes very mellow. We saw this liquor and one made from melons in Cinque Terre.

Limoncello [limon'tʃɛlːo] is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, mainly in the region around the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi and islands of Procida, Ischia and Capri, but also in Sicily, Sardinia, Menton in France and the Maltese island of Gozo. It is made from lemon rinds (traditionally from the Sorrento lemon, though most lemons will produce satisfactory limoncello), alcohol, water, and sugar. It is bright yellow in color, sweet and lemony, but not sour since it contains no lemon juice.

Gelato

One of the things I must have is the daily Gelato...I absolutely became addicted to it in 2005. Telling my friends they were going to need to do an intervention when I came home...lol It has a different texture than American ice cream (smoother) and you can find it on many street corners in Italian towns. The flavors I enjoyed the most was cherry and pistachios, though the lemon cello was good too...every location has their own receipe. You can eat it either in a cone or cup. Our travel agent has pointed out to us her favorite place for Gelato in Florence -- so we will definitely be checking it out!

Gelato, or the plural Gelati, is the Italian regional variant of ice cream. As such, gelato is made with similar ingredients as most ice-creams around the world, with milk (and cream), sugar (and other sweeteners), flavorings (fruits, nuts, essences, etc.) and air as the main ingredients. Other ingredients that stabilize or emulsify may be used to improve the shelf-life or "ice-cream-case-life" of the product. Gelato can be made using the hot process, which includes pasteurization or as a cold process which doesn't require pasteurization. Both processes require a gelato batch freezer, which makes the end product by mixing the ingredients and incorporating air. Like high-end ice cream, gelato generally has less than 55% air, resulting in a denser product.

Gelato is typically made with fresh fruit or other ingredients such as chocolate (pure chocolate, flakes, chips, etc.), nuts, small confections or cookies, or biscuits. Gelato made with water and without dairy ingredients is known as sorbetto (also known as sorbet). Traditionally, milk-based gelato originated in northern Italy, while the fruit and water based sorbetto came from the warmer parts of southern Italy.

The History of Gelato dates back to the 16th century. There is some confusion in the origin as to where or who really invented gelato. As most stories go, it is credited to Bernardo Buontalenti, a native of Florence, who delighted the court of Caterina dei Medici with his creation. Italians are certainly credited with introducing gelato to the rest of Europe; with Sicilian born Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli who undoubtedly was one of the most influential individuals in the history of gelato, as one of the first to sell it to the public. Summoned to Paris in 1686, he opened a café named after himself called “Café Procope”, which quickly became one of the most celebrated haunts of the literary establishment in France. In Italy meanwhile, the art of traditional gelato making was passed on from father to son, improved and perfected right up to the 20th century, when many gelato makers began to emigrate, taking their know-how to the rest of Europe.

Siena

Siena is know for their horse race through the city...we will be too early to see it, but the city is full of art and history.

Siena (also widely spelled Sienna in English) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.

The Palio di Siena (known locally simply as Il Palio) is a

horse race held twice each year on July 2 and August 16 in Siena, Italy, in which ten horses and riders, dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen Contrade, or city wards.

The race itself, in which the jockeys ride bareback, involves circling the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of dirt has been laid, three times and usually last no more than 90 seconds. It is not uncommon for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while making the treacherous turns in the piazza and indeed it is not unusual to see unmounted horses finishing the race without their jockeys.

A magnificent pageant, the Corteo Storico, precedes the race, which attracts visitors and spectators from around the world.

Cortona

We will stop over night in Cortona on our way back to Florence from Rome. Our travel agent highly recommended this stop and I have always loved the "Under the Tuscan Sun" movie which is the town the movie is about and filmed in.


Cortona is a town and comune in the province of Arezzo, in Tuscany, Italy. It is the setting for the film Under the Tuscan Sun, starring Diane Lane, based on the book by Frances Mayes.


Cortona was founded by the Etruscans, who called it Curtun in their language. The city was also important during Roman times.

The Castle of Pierle, near Lake Trasimeno to the south of Cortona, already existed in the 10th century. It was the property of the marquises of Saint Mount Maria Tiberina. In 1428 there is a contract of sale by the Republic of Florence and payment of 1200 gold florins when it became free of Cortona. However that wasn't enough to save the Rocca, and it was voluntarily destroyed by the Grand Duke so that outlaws would not take refuge there.

San Gimigano

San Gimignano is one of the towns I visited in 2005 and fell in love with it. The towers are facinating and I found wonderful pottery and leather shops.

San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometers outside the town.

The town also is known for the white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, grown in the area. (I think I will be happy I am taking a wine box to bring wine home in...)

San Gimignano was founded as a small village in the 3rd century BC by the Etruscans. Historical records begin in the 10th century, when it adopted the name of the bishop Saint Geminianus, who had defended it from Attila's Huns.

In the Middle Ages and Renaissance era, it was a stopping point for Catholic pilgrims on their way to Rome and the Vatican, as it sits on the medieval Via Francigena. The city's development also was improved by the trade of agricultural products from the fertile neighbouring hills.
In 1199, during the period of its highest splendour, the city made itself independent from the bishops of Volterra. Divisions between Guelphs and Ghibellines troubled the inner life of the commune, which nonetheless, still managed to embellish itself with artworks and architectures.
Saint Fina, known also as Seraphina and Serafina, was a thirteenth century Italian saint born in San Gimignano during 1238. Since Saint Fina died on March 12, 1253 her feast day became March 12. Her major shrine is in San Gimignano and the house said to be her home still stands in the town.

The city flourished until 1348, when the plague that affected all of Europe, compelled it to submit to Florence. San Gimignano became a secondary centre until the nineteenth century, when its status as a touristic and artistic resort began to be recognized.

Cinque Terre

We will take the train to Cinque Terre and stay overnight. Our hotel is in Monterosso on the beach front. Vanessa and I are looking forward to the shopping and sun while we are there. I visited Cinque Terre in 2005 - the views are just amazing and every little shop has a "shop kitty".

The Cinque Terre (pronounced CHEEN-kweh TEHR-reh) is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is in the Liguria region of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia. "The Five Lands" comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

The Cinque Terre is noted for its beauty. Over centuries, man has carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible "modern" development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages and cars can not reach it from the outside. It is a very popular tourist destination.

Florence

Thought you might enjoy knowing alittle about the areas we will be visiting. Vanessa and I will start in Florence and use it as our "base". Our hotel is very close to the Duomo -- and we are hoping we will be on the side where we can see the Duomo from our hotel room.

Florence is known as the “cradle of Renaissance” (la culla del Rinascimento) for its monuments, churches and buildings. The best-known site and crowning architectural jewel of Florence is the domed cathedral of the city, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as The Duomo. The magnificent dome was built by Filippo Brunelleschi. The nearby Campanile (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery buildings are also highlights. Both the dome itself and the campanile are open to tourists and offer excellent views; The dome, 600 years after its completion, is still the largest dome built in brick and mortar in the world.

In 1982, the historic center of Florence (Italian: centro storico di Firenze) was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO for the importance of its cultural heritages. The center of the city is contained in medieval walls that were built in the 14th century to defend the city after it became famous and important for its economic growth.

At the heart of the city in Piazza della Signoria is Bartolomeo Ammanati's Fountain of Neptune (1563-1565), which is a masterpiece of marble sculpture at the terminus of a still functioning Roman aqueduct.

The Arno River, which cuts through the old part of the city, is as much a character in Florentine history as many of the people who lived there. Historically, the locals have had a love-hate relationship with the Arno — which alternated from nourishing the city with commerce, and destroying it by flood.

One of the bridges in particular stands out as being unique — The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), whose most striking feature is the multitude of shops built upon its edges, held up by stilts. The bridge also carries Vasari's elevated corridor linking the Uffizi to the Medici residence (Palazzo Pitti). Although the original bridge was constructed by the Etruscans, the current bridge was rebuilt in the 14th century It is the only bridge in the city to have survived World War II intact.

The church of San Lorenzo contains the Medici Chapel, the mausoleum of the Medici family - the most powerful family in Florence from the 15th to the 18th century. Nearby is the Uffizi Gallery, one of the finest art museums in the world - founded on a large bequest from the last member of the Medici family.