Today I have to hurry, rain is forecast, so I have to leave early. Heck, breakfast starts at 8:00, the further south you go the later they have breakfast. I get organized and at 9:00 I’m ready, let’s go! Gaeta is beautiful with the sea of her and even arriving in Formia the spectacle of Gaeta in the background is incredible. I try to use the state road as much as possible and resist the temptation of the sirens, since we are in the Homeric area, which continue on the earpiece to tell me to turn left, turn left. Until at a certain point I hear him tell me to turn right, that is, towards the sea, I listen to him. What a show! The sea with high waves, so much so that some brave people practice surfing, which crash on the shore and in the distance there is a fog formed by sea foam.
Here I find a beautiful 4 km long cycle path. I go out to get back on the state road but the track deceives me. I find myself walking along internal streets and, as is my habit, I try to avoid it. This maneuver means that I find myself in front of a Roman aqueduct with dozens of arches, the Vespasian aqueduct. I try to frame as best I can with the camera so that as many arcs as possible appear. I set off again and immediately afterwards I find myself in front of another wonder, a Bourbon railway bridge, defined as suspended. It is on the Garigliano river which marks the border between Lazio and Campania and therefore, without realizing it and without signs, it enters the new region. I cycle along the river and head towards Domizia bay. A fence prevents access to the natural area of the bay. I arrive at the campsites and here I drill. Not without a few curses, I remember that I am not a great expert in repairing bicycles, I have to agree with my friend Salvatore. I try to fix the rear wheel without turning the bicycle upside down, I don’t want to make him laugh more. I can’t do it, I have to turn the bike, laugh, laugh!! I managed the feat in just 30 minutes and set off again. Across the Appia state road, after countless tours around Baia Domizia, I leave the sea for good. I turn towards the Appia Antica and continue towards Caserta which is still 60 km away. The roads are definitely not at their best and in all the places I pass it has just stopped raining, endless puddles on the sides of the road and not only that, I continue to dodge with my bicycle to avoid them, a gymkhana. I decide not to eat and to maintain a good average as much as possible in order to reach Caserta in time to visit the Royal Palace. The passage through Capua with its monuments is interesting, I am a photographer but my head is entirely projected towards Caserta and towards the possibility that it will start to rain.
Last km and the sun lights up the Novotel that I can see from the nearby overpass, the rain is averted. Quick shower and off I go for the four kilometers on foot that separate me from the royal palace, let’s hope we can get in. I only manage to arrive in time to visit the royal apartments, the gardens have already closed, I’m still happy. The surprise comes from the price, incredibly only 4 euros. The entrance staircase takes your breath away even if it is very reminiscent of Palazzo Madama in Turin, I will have to investigate which of the two was built first. A series of rooms with countless works of art, including some modern ones, accompany the visitors’ journey. Vanvitelli did so many that he managed to tire me too, it must have been the kilometers on the bike, but? I decided that to go back to the hotel I will take a taxi, I can afford it given the savings on the ticket. Definitely worth seeing is the Neapolitan nativity scene, incredibly beautiful! I go to eat, I’m hungry, I skipped lunch at midday and riding a bike uses up a lot of energy. (The palace of Caserta was built by the Bourbons, rulers of the Two Sicilies, one of the many states into which Italy was divided in 1700, entrusting the design to Luigi Vanvitelli. Begun in 1752, it was completed in 1845. The palace has a surface of 47,000 square meters: it is 247 meters long, 190 wide and 41 high, it has four courtyards measuring 74 by 52 meters, practically a normal football field, five floors plus the basement intended for kitchens and workshops, in total there are 1,200 rooms, 34 stairs, while the windows are 1,742. It is slightly smaller than Versailles, but not by much, but its enormous park makes it the largest palace in the world. It was included in the 1997 list of UNESCO heritage sites world.)
the movie
1 View of Gaeta from Formia
2 Roman aqueduct of Vespasian in Minturno Scauri
3 Bourbon suspension bridge
4 The Garigliano river divides the regions of Lazio (Rome) and Campania (Naples)
5 church in the ancient city of Capua
6 The Royal Palace of Caserta
7 Royal Palace of Caserta, the grand staircase
8 Royal Palace of Caserta, the grand staircase
9 Royal Palace of Caserta, the Palatine Chapel
10 Royal Palace of Caserta, Alexander Hall
11 Royal Palace of Caserta, endless corridors behind me
12 Royal Palace of Caserta, Throne Room
13 Royal Palace of Caserta, The bed of the rulers
14 Royal Palace of Caserta, The Neapolitan nativity scene
15 Royal Palace of Caserta, at sunset
@ErmesT @LuigiZ @DENIT33 @PattyBlack @DeniGu @TravellerG @renata1 @Stephanie_OWL @AntonellaGr @Mukul_Anand
es un lugar con una rica historia.
es ist ein Vergnügen deine Etappen nun in einem Stück lesen zu können!
