Day 13.

If 13 is an unlucky number, the only bad luck I've had this day is that I took far to many shots. Twelve of them made it to the web, I really hope that you enjoy them.




The Duomo di Orvieto, one of the most beautiful cathedrals I've ever seen. Reminds me a lot about the one in Sienna.


The inside of the same cathedral.


And a close up on the details of the front decoration. I wonder how they keep people of steeling the gold.


A relief from an Etruscan sarcophagus in tuff, probably depicting a scene from the Iliad.


Once a mighty guardian of a rich man's tomb, now reduced to a corner at the local museum, this once proud bull stood outside Vulci.


The Roman bridge crossing the Fiora river. Once, along time ago, it also carried an aqueduct delivering water to the city.


And I tell you, the span was rather high. Nothing for the faint hearted.


We found a basin and waterfall close to the bridge, The full glory of it unfortunately long lost as humans stole the water for a dam upstream. Notice how the water have cut its way through the stone, finally hitting a piece of harder basalt forcing a water fall.


One of the larger churches in Tusculum, seen from the outside on yesterdays panorama, this is the crypt below the altar.


The cellar of a Roman villa at Vulci. I very much enjoyed exploring it!



The bath of the same villa, beautiful mosaics. There was no dating but the pattern and style suggests somewhere around the birth of Christ.


Finally, a Mithraeum from Vulci. The Mitheras cult was a mysterious warrior religion, only open to men, celebrating their ritual meals in dark caves or underground chambers possibly while sacrificing bulls.

Day 12.

We move quickly through Etruria, visiting one remain of this ancient civilization mightier then the last one. This day was dedicated to Viterbo and Tarquinia, mainly the later one with the very famous painted Etruscan tombs.


The view from Tuscania where we made up came, also known as stayed in a hotel. (Click to enlarge)


The basilica and fortress in Tuscania. The Basilica was magnificent!


A terracotta relief of Aquurossa type. I believe it's type A or B, but it might be D as well. We know that this kind of terracotta relief's have been been used all over Etruria to decorate domestic buildings, possibly monumental buildings and tombs. They are obviously made from pre-made pattern and pressed into the shape.


I managed to take pictures of quite a deal of the painted tombs in (or under/on the other hill) Tarquinia. This is the one called Tomba delle Leonesse. The name derive from the felines in the pediment, though, obviously leopards not lionesses.


Another tomb painting, this one from Tomba del Cacciatore (Tomb of the hunter). Notice the close resemblance to a tent in the design of the painting.


The view from where the graves are situated, ancient Tarquinia in the upper right corner. It was by some reason situated quite far from the tombs and further away form the sea - at the same time in total control of the nearby farmland.


An area normally closed of to the public that we were allowed to visit! Amazing place, and what's even more amazing is that this is how the whole area would have looked like back then, kilometres of it!

Day 11, Part two.

Well, I'm back from Etruria and yes I survived the earthquake. However, the damage to the area where the disaster struck is immense and cannot be overestimated, it's terrible.

Anyway here comes the pictures from the first day - a few more then normally. Some are from Blera, others from San Giovenale.


Enjoy!



The Via Claudia, an ancient road still in use. It have most likely been used for a great deal longer but it was the Romans who formalised it in the last decades before the Birth of Christ.


Blera, a place where time has stood still. The bridge spanning the ravine wasn't constructed until the fascist rule in Italy and it must have improved the villages position a great deal as the train station is on the other side.


Another shot of Blera, a truly calm and peaceful place. One really funny thing was how we went down into a cave/cellar under a restaurant/hotel after our dinner to buy wine. The place was vut into the living stone. The village was very male dominated though.


One of my absolute favourite sites during this trip, just outside of Blera. This necropolis is situated where the Roman road exit the city and cross a high bridge and is thus very easily spotted. Amazing!


The medieval fortress at San Giovenale, still mighty after all those years.



The Swedish excavations of San Giovenale. I may look like nothing now but it completely re-shaped how we look at the Etruscans towns and societies when it was found.


The place where we had our breakfast, a small town called something like barbare-ish. Blear had just a gateway like this until it was torn down to make room for a parking lot. Ouch.

Day 11.

I won't be able to update the blog for some days as I'm off to Etruria. I'll be back at Thursday!

Day 10.

Well I was wrong yesterday, today is my 10th day in Rome. I guess that tells you how tired I am.

Today I've been at the library again, I'm all but done with the Etruscans. As it's only very little left I had the great idea to go down to the forum. Guess I got stuck.


Arch of Titus. Did you know that it was torn down and rebuilt stone by stone in the 19th century?



The little that's left by the wall of between the forum of Augustus and Forum of Nerva.


The Spanish stairs. I've had two pictures from the spot already without the stairs them self. Guess it was about time.


Forum Romanum. As I said yesterday about the column of Trajan, this is almost the same but on the other end. I won't say anything cause then I'd have to write a book.


Finally the Colosseum. I know that it's over rated, there's a million shots of it on the net and so on, but it still makes a great picture.

day 9.

10 days in Rome so far, I can't imagine that I've already been here for that long. Anyway it's a Saturday and I decided to leave the library for a moment and took a stroll down to the Forum. Here's some of the shots:



Many have heard of them, few have actually seen them and the numbers of those who climb them are easily counted. May I presented the stairs of death. I'm sure they have a real name as well, probably something nice and religious but I tell you, it's a long walk up there. I've also decided that it was time for me to appear as some people found it curious that I never showed up myself. Here I am!



Italy got to get her own picture sooner or later.


Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele.
No that's not even the full name! What did they think of? And why the very white marble, a more yellow warmer tone would fit in much better with the imperial fora.


Column of Trajan.Nope, I'm not going to tell you anything about this one, if that makes you feel uncomfortable I suggest Google. This is a must know.


Far down into the ground I find this hidden place with water dripping and long shadows. Beside this alley it also contained a reservoir that someone claim belonged to the Aqua Virgo. I'm not convinced.

Day 8.

Another day in Roma and what a day! I've been to Cerveteri today and I tell you, there is no place that bring the Etruscans to life as their death and Necropolis does. Even as I knew that the site would be terrific it struck me with it's ancients mystery. This place must surely be the Pompeii of the Etruscans (Lets forget that Pompeii was Etruscan for some time).

I might add that the weather is fabulous and I'm at my very best here. Anyone who have seen me at a ruin know what I'm talking about! It's hot, it's ruins, it's me.



The entrance to the city imminently strike the visitor with it's beauty. I will most certainly return for another tour.



The Death Lily, a flower growing in abundance on the tombs of Cerveteri. It is said to bloom on the fields of the afterlife.


6th century tombs. The Etruscans had turned away from tumulus mounds by this time and now arranged their necropolis's in a tricky Hippodamic manner with straight streets.


My personal favourite tomb, another picture show the inside but it's difficult to imagine what it looks like anyway. One thing was clear, something went wrong when the tomb was constructed and it looks like two toms intersected by mistake, resulting in two entrances, something that is quite unique.



Inside my favourite tomb was among other things a chair or throne, a popular detail.



Inside another tomb, notice the smaller deathbeds for the children of the deceased.


Walking around a tumulus tomb.



There's some mystery left at this site, lots to explore and many excavated tombs. Some have unfortunately taken damage but it gives a lot of an Indiana Jones feeling of adventure. I must bring a flash light next time.


Another tumulus covered with grass and death lily's. Quite beautiful.

Day 7.

It's an absolutely stunning day in Rome today. The sun shines, it's warm and I've spent almost all of it in a library. Oh well, there'll be more days, no doubt, and tonight there's a party at the Spanish institute. Can't wait!

I managed to take a short walk though and here's some pictures from it.

On a side note; the pictures that I have posted the last days have had their resolution slightly changed making them a little bit blurry. I have found out why and it won't happen again!


Not all good are is ancient. This is a carved monument base (That's what it looks like at least) from the Villa Borghese.


Morning at the Swedish institute.


Well it's time for yet another institute, the Romanian one. Just because we can't compete with the Brits doesn't mean that other countries won't try their luck. This is a good attempt and they reach almost the same class, in my opinion very much thanks to the upper colonnade.


What is a park without a small temple? I will never appreciate the park where I run in Lund again. This shot is taken from the Villa Borghese.



Finally, a triumphal arch. Also situated in the Villa Borghese, modern or not, it makes the walk to the shop a pleasure every day!

Day 6.

It's only half past 3 but I can't see how I would get any other shots today so here we go:


An Etruscan terracotta sculpture can make anyone's day! This one is now in the Villa Guilia.


A grotesque painting from the Villa Guilia. For those who doesn't know, grotesque derives from the fact that these paintings are heavily inspired by finds in Nero's villa Domus Aurea during the late medieval times and renaissance. Back then it was thought to be a cave painted in this manner and thus is became cave art, grotte being cave in Italian. Notice the close resemblance to the fourth Pompeiian style.


One of the many gardens in the Villa Guilia.


And the last picture for today, The British Institute. You might remember the picture I posted from the Swedish institute a few days ago, let me tell you, the Brits are in a completely different league.