Friday, September 3, 2010

Rome: Giorni Uno, Due e Trè

Roma!  Finally here!  The first two days went by so fast; the plane ride was grueling and we hit the ground running.  We arrived in Fummaciano, and we driven to Rome.  Road lines seem to be more of a suggestion than a rule; we learned this quickly.  I'm living in an apartment-style residence called Gianicolo in Trastevere, a neighborhood/ area of Rome along the Tiber river.  I'm in an apartment with seven other girls from Notre Dame; it's a lot of fun.  The apartments are all furnished so we didn't have to buy anything except food and some cleaning supplies.
The second day, we explored Rome a little and found the two John Cabot campuses, Guarini and the Tiber.
Everyday so far has been filled with gelato and pizza; I can't complain!

Today was definitely my favorite day so far.  Our program took us on a tour of Odescalchi Castle, in Bracciano, about an hour outside of Rome.  The castle (which happens to be where Tom Cruise married Katie Holmes) is situated on a beautiful lake.  The Lake and the beach are sort of Black because of a nearby volcano.
The Castle had some interesting owners, among them, Paolo Giordano Orsini, Duke of Bracciano (1542-1576).  He married Isabella Romola de'Medici in 1560, which might have been a mistake because she wasn't very faithful to him.  Legend says that she took a different lover every night and then sent them through a trap door in the corridor, where the lovers perished in a well of lime and blades.  When the Duke fell in love with Vittoria Accoramboni, he accused Isabella of adultery and strangled her.  He then married Vittoria after having her husband killed.  Unfortunately, the Duke's cousin ordered Vittoria killed so no one wins in this legend.  Maybe not a lucky place to get married.

After the tour, we had lunch at a restaurant called Le Papere.  It was a great Italian meal, with antipasto, pasta, fish, salad, desert, and espresso.  delizioso!!

After lunch, we went swimming in the Lake and rented paddle boats (only 2 euros!).
That's all for now, ciao!