Blogs from Marche, Italy, Europe - page 3

We drove along the coast road rather than the freeway and stopped numerous times to check out the beach. Other than the colour of the umbrellas it didn't change much. The seaside towns we vdry quaint though. We ate our gourmet picnic (last nights leftovers) down by the water and it tasted pretty good the day after. We decided that we were not going to find anywhere to stay on the coast so we turned inland towards Urbino and decided that the first place we found after we turned off the freeway would do. As we drove into to Urbino we saw a sign for Casa Dolce Casa (home sweet home) and headed there. It was another rare gem. Right on the side of a hill, looking over the valley toward the walled town of Urbino, ... read more

Ok ok, so we have now found some pretty places in Italy. Yesterday, we travelled down the Amalfi Coast within the height of tourism on a Sunday! And today, we travelled over to the east coast of Italy and found a sweet paradise without the crowds in Falconara Marittima, near Ancona.Unfortunately, even though we drove through the popular villages of Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi, there was no way we were able to get a park... but there were a few unknown towns in between the major three that had just the same beauty without the heavy traffic. We found a place called Praiano which was just delightful.... read more

Suzy moved on down the road to the tiny village of Gradara. We have planned to stop at a car park called the Cypresses but found it firmly shut when we arrived. The gates were locked and although there was a car park next to it there was no space for Suzy or any motorhome of any length. We thought we might have to miss Gradara and its pretty castle but luckily found another car park a little way down the town and this one catered for motorhomes and was empty. The rain was falling and I got a touch wet walking over to the machine to pay my 5 euros to park. For the 3 euros we could stay until midnight. Not that we intended to do that as our next destination was the small ... read more

Numana to Misano Adriatico 4th June to 11th June 2012 Monday 4th June 2012 Head off in nice weather but the further north we go the worse it gets so decided to go inland to Urbino rather than the beaches. Find the only campsite just out of town – ‘Camping Pineta’. Bloody hell - €38 a night and only 4amps – that won’t even run the oil heater and Tom has packed up the doona way down into the bowels of the camper. So I’m cold and not happy. It now has started to rain very lightly, so on with wet weather gear, and on the scooter into town. What a beautiful place. We find the tourist information office and get map and info on Duomo. Off to see Rapphael’s ... read more

Saturday 9th June, 2012 - Urbania After Gail finished two hours of school this morning, we visited The Church of the Dead, - a most unusual tourist “attraction” in Urbania. Back in the 1500s, when Urbania was still called Caste Durante, people who couldn't afford a proper burial were buried under one of the churches. In about 1804, some of these bodies were discovered in a perfectly mummified condition. This was due to a certain mushroom that dehydrated the bodies, slowing decomposition. About 15 of these bodies are on display at the church. It was a weird feeling being in a room with these mummified corpses, which are all in a room behind the altar of the church. Our guide explained in Italian/English, how the bodies were discovered, how the mummification process with the mushrooms works, ... read more