Capua Amphitheatre

See how much better I am doing with these posts? I got my second wind! Hopefully during this last year for us, I can get all our old trips posted here. So today we are coming to you from Capua Amphitheatre. The second largest amphitheatre in Italy. The Coliseum in Rome being the largest.

This place was pretty cool. It was super cheap to get into, we were the only people there, and the kids got to run and climb on everything. You get way more for your money here compared to the Coliseum.

The Arena! At one time, Capua boasted the best gladiator schools that trained both slaves and freemen. Spartacus, the leader who led the slave revolt in 73 B.C. against Rome, first distinguished himself as a gladiator in the Capua amphitheater.

The underground tunnels

It was cool to be able to go into the underground tunnels and see where the machinery and animals were kept. And where those less fortunate gladiators waited to ascend to their demise.

 

So many artifacts still very well preserved.

Another successful day trip!

Vino

Another visit from my sister allowed me to scratch something else off my Italy to-do list....wine tasting! Catina del Vesuvio is a winery at the base of Mt. Vesuvius that offers tasting and lunch.

We were taken around the grounds as our guide gave us some information about how the grapes are grown and cared for. The soil there is very rich in minerals due to the volcanic rock.

The volcanic rock is very porous which eliminates the need for them to water the grape vines. The rocks soak up the rain water!

They plant roses around the vines as a warning system. If there is any type of fungus or something harmful to the plants, it will attack the roses first. Then they can determine what cause of action to take for the grapes.

They let other flowers and weeds grow freely. They really never mow the grass.

Vesuvius looms in the background

 


Time to eat! Everything was delicioso!

Positano

My sister was able to come and visit for 2 weeks in December. Yes December. Yes December 2012. I am such a slacker on this blogging thing! So sorry! Anyway, we were able to hit a few places that I hadn't been to yet like Positano. I'd never even heard of Positano before we moved here so I had no idea of the beauty and peace I would experience. We found a small lot to park in and then started walking down the windy road.

We found some stairs here and headed down to the beach.

                                                     

Finding a cafe at the beach was an added bonus!

This is probably the view most people are familiar with when talking about Positano. It is such a beautiful and peaceful seaside town with such a picturesque city on the hill. Since we have been in Italy I have developed a list of cities I could retire in, this is one of them.

Ciao Ciao!! Until next time....hopefully less than a year from now...