Oosterdam European Adventure, Civitavecchia, Italy...

Another early arrival into Civitavecchia... We took the shuttle to the port gate and met our guide Susanna to find some off the beaten track treasures. Our first stop was at the Ferento Etruscan Roman theatre. Next, we reached Civita Bagnoregi and walked to the Belvedere for the absolutely stunning view of the Civita. I choose to make the trek to the Civita and the ladies stayed behind. Reachable only by a long, steep bridge. Once you enter through the massive stone gates, Civita di Bagnoregio is a great example of a medieval city left relatively untouched. Surrounded by a few shops and restaurants, the focal point of the Square is a Catholic church. Today, less than ten people live here full time. Built on a volcanic plateau, this ‘Dying City’ is crumbling due to earthquakes, erosion, and landslides. Next, we stopped in Bolsena to see the Monaldeschi Castle and walked around visiting the narrow streets and alleyway as well as taking in the great views of Lake Bolsena. Our next stop was high above the lake at Monaldeschi Castle. In the main town, we stopped at the beautiful Santa Cristina Church…well worth the visit. We stopped at the Bolsena World War II Cemetery in honor of the allies lost in the area. We stopped for a lite Italian lunch at Montefiascone at the Rocco deli Papa and park. The castle was the summer house of the Popes during early medieval time and its public park was an ancient fortress that dominates the city, offering spectacular views of the lake and surrounding hills. Arriving in Tuscania, we stopped at the town square and visited the Lavelle Tower that hovers over a small park and the countryside, with St. Peter’s Basilica and castle in the background. Susanna drove us to St. Peter’s Church to look around and also made a brief stop at Basilica Santa Maria Maggio. We had a great weather; we couldn’t have had a better day for strolling and viewing the beautiful countryside. Again, thanks to Susanna for thinking outside the box and allowing us to discover the hidden gems of the area between Civitavecchia and Rome.