Naples - Getting in the Mood

A few books set in Naples (see Amazon.com for details):







And a couple of movies:

Amalfi Coast - Getting in the Mood

Some books set along the Amalfi Coast or in Sorrento (see Amazon.com for details):






And a few movies filmed or set in the area (see imdb.com for details):





Although mostly about Tuscany, there are some beautiful scenes shot in Positano:

Capri - Getting in the Mood

In addition to guide books and travelogues, before I travel I like to read novels set in the place I'm going to and watch movies filmed there.

A few books about Capri, or that take place there (go to Amazon.com to get the details):








And a couple of movies filmed on Capri:

Vesuvio

Vesuvius (Vesuvio in Italian) may be the most famous volcano on earth.   Located less than 25 miles from our hotel in Sorrento, it is possible to climb right up to the mouth of the crater, called Il Gran Cono. 

Quiet since its last eruption in March 1944, Vesuvio has a long and active history.  Scientists trace the first volcanic activity as far back as 6,000 BC.  The most famous eruption happened on August 24, 79 AD, when the towns of Ercolano, Pompei and Stabia were completely destroyed by ashes and lava.

Today Vesuvio is active as a tourist destination and national park.  You can climb up the path ...

... and peer right into the crater.

The path is steep in places and uneven in others, but it is rated as only "moderately" difficult.  The base of the path can be reached by bus from Pompei, or by van from Ercolano.   Both Pompei and Ercolano are on the Circumvesuviana train line; the Sorrento station for this line is one mile from our hotel.

To read more about Vesuvius, check out the national park web site, the Italy parks web site, or the Campania tourism web site.  There is also a brochure that can be downloaded as a pdf file here.

Rome - Europe's Largest Synagogue and Mosque

Although I knew that Rome's synagogue is the largest in Europe, I only recently learned that the city is also home to the largest mosque in Europe as well.

La Sinagoga

Jews first came to Rome as traders in the 2nd century BC and, despite efforts starting in the 16th century to drive them away, there has been a Jewish community in Rome for more than two millennium.  A papal edict issued by Pope Paul IV in 1555 created the Ghetto; walls and gates were erected to close off the Jewish community in a small area (approximately seven acres) along the Tiber.

Living conditions in the Ghetto were abysmal; approximately 3,500 people were imprisoned in the district each night and the area was prone to flooding.  Finally, nearly 300 years later, another papal order caused the gates to be torn down and the area was transformed into a Jewish quarter.

The synagogue (sinagoga in Italian) was built between 1901 - 1904.  Its distinctive four-sided, aluminum sheathed dome sets it apart from the other religious structures in the city and makes it instantly recognizable.

Relatively peaceful cohabitation of Catholics and Jews in Rome lasted for slightly more than 50 years, until October 16, 1943, when the occupying Germans raided the Ghetto and rounded up the residents.  More than 2,000 Roman Jews were deported to Nazi concentration camps; very few of them returned.

The synagogue complex also houses the Jewish museum of Rome.  You can read more about the museum here.

The mosque is a new addition to Rome, completed in 1995. 



Amalfi Paper

Amalfi has been known for high quality paper making for hundreds of years; people came from all over Europe to have their documents printed on Amalfi paper.

Today the Museo della Carta preserves 500 year old paper making machinery and demonstrates how to make paper.

The museum's collections include engravings, manuscripts, printed books, bills and posters, as well as tools and machines for making paper.

Of course, there is also a museum shop where you can purchase hand-made paper products.

You can read more about the museum on their web site here.

Rome - Saturday Mass in English

Santa Susanna is the American Catholic church in Rome and it's only three short blocks from our hotel, the Quirinale.  For those who wish to attend a Roman Catholic mass in English while in Rome, this is the place to go.  Saturday evening mass is at 6 PM.

For more information, see the Santa Susanna web site.