Tarquinia

Instead of heading south to Rome with the masses on the day the ship returned to Civitecchia, we caught 2 buses north to Tarquinia, an Etruscan and mediaeval hill town.


We waited to catch the bus up from the train station and the heavens opened.

In our sodden state, we visited the key sights to fit them in early in our visit as the entire town closed for a siesta. Our first visit was to the Duomo, Santa di Margherita. This included a magnificent ceiling with large wall and ceiling paintings.

The highlight of our visit was Santa Maria in Castello. This was truly beautiful both outside and inside although it was difficult on to capture on film with the blobs of rain on the camera lens. This is normally closed but we were lucky to gain entry.

Later in the morning we walked the rest of the town visiting churches, looking at fountains and marveling at the mediaeval streetscape.

We returned to the ship at Civitecchia by bus and train as the sun came out.

We also managed to fit in the main sights of Civitecchia – churches, sculptures and the fort.

                                                             It really was raining heavily.

          
                          The interior of the duomo.

                                     The  baptismal font in Santa Maria in Castella was very large - they must have     practised immersion.