Now that we're feeling somewhat settled in Florence and my husband Sandro is about to start his culinary education, we decided to take a quick trip south for a visit with the family. Sandro's aunts & uncles (zia's & zio's) and every one of his cousins and their children live in and around Rome. With just three days and a lot of family to see, we skipped the usual tourist fare and settled quite happily for life as Italians live it...I thought you'd like a glimpse!
Sandro, Elly and I camped out for the weekend with cousin Antonella and her husband Lorenzo. They live in the city, but well outside the hustle of the centre. The day we arrived, Antonella recommended a children's park within walking distance of their appartment. We found it easily, but what we discovered was a huge urban green space set in and around the archeological remains of a Roman Aqueduct.
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| "Aqua Felice" |
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| The Aqueduct up close... |
I was amazed at the size of the structure, but more so at our ability to get close to the ruins. There are no guard rails or "stay off" signs. In fact there are stairs provided to give you better access and pathways to move from one side to the other. It's a beautiful marriage between history and modern necessity. What better way to acknowledge and appreciate history than to play with your children, have a game of soccer or walk your dog along side it? I'm sure for most Romans, the presence of ruins like these goes unnoticed in the day to day routine. But when you're surrounded by this kind of aesthetic, I think you can't help but be inspired by it!
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| Inside the Aqueduct....complete with biking trails and a duck pond. Bellissimo! |
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| A support wall with stairs to get nice and close... |
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| ...from the top of the wall... |
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| Playing field with Aqueduct in the background |
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