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We get our car today and drive to Naples region!
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Day 4, July 25
After breakfast in our room we set off to StazioneTermini (the train station) to pick up our rental car. We were given a Smart For Four, a four door Smart car, with automatic transmission. I figured Italy was not the place for me to perfect my skills at driving a standard transmission.
Driving in Rome was very confusing, without knowing landmarks or main intersections, navigating was difficult. With all the one way streets, underground streets, and round abouts it was very easy to get lost. We eventually found our way to Vatican City.
After parking the car, we walked into Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's Square). Built in the 17th century, the immense square is bounded by two semicircular colonnades, each of which is made up of four rows of Doric columns. In the centre of the piazza is an obelisk brought to Rome by Caligula from Heliopolis in ancient Egypt. The square leads you to Basilica di San Pietro. The church is immense,the biggest in the world and built beginning in 1506. Bramante, Raphael, Antonio de Sangallo, Michelangelo, Giacomo della Porta and Carlo Maderno all contributed, but it was Michelangelo who took over the project in 1547 at the age of 72 who was responsible for the design of the dome.
The interior can hold 60,000 people and contains incredible art treasures. The baldacchino (canopy) designed by Bernini, stands 29m high in the centre of the church and is an extraordinary work of art made from bronze taken from the Pantheon. The high alter, which only the Pope can use, stands over the site of St. Peter's grave.
After wandering through the church for well over an hour, we proceeded down to the Sacre Grotte Vaticane (Vatican Grottoes), below the church. The tombs of numerous popes line the walls. Some very ornate, others very understated. Stopped at the tomb of Pope John Paul II for a few moments to take photos before climbing back up to the church steps for a rest and the long walk around the Vatican to the entrance to the Sistine Chapel. Upon arriving at the entrance we discovered that it closes early on Thursday and we had missed the last entry by 7 minutes. Decided then that we would return to Rome early to revisit it before returning our car at the end of our trip.
We walked back to the parking garage to get our car and set out for the Napoli area. After negotiating the streets of Rome, we found our way to the Autostrade. Highway driving was much easier, better signs for navigating and is two or three lanes each direction and is divided. Average speed in the slow lane is 130km and in the passing lane cars speed by at 160km or more. We suddenly came to a dead stop, and remained stuck in traffic for an hour and a half due to a massive accident way up the road. While waiting, we watched the locals get out of their cars, go for walks, chat with others, etc.
As it was getting late, and dark, we decided to stop in Salerno for the night. Salerno is one of southern Italy's many victims of earth tremors and landslides, it was also left in tatters by the heavy fighting that followed the 1943 landings of the American 5th Army. It has a charming medieval quarter and a pleasant seafront promenade.
After a quick inquiry at one hotel that was fully booked , I was directed up the pedestrian road to another several hotels and found us a room for the night at Albergo Italia. Surprised at how cheap this three star hotel was at only 70 Euros, we dropped our bags and found a local restaurant and enjoyed a great meal of fresh seafood and local wine. Early night, to bed at 1 a.m.
Where I stayed:
Albergo Italia (Salerno, Italy)
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| 4. | We get our car today and drive to Naples region! - Napoli, Italy Jul 25, 2005 |
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