Vieste
May 22 - 23
High: 70
Low: 67
Mostly sunny
Along the way
Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli
This morning our group hit the road for the first time. We traveled in a large bus with plenty of space for all of us. The itinerary includes time for bio breaks, so even on the days with a longer drive it isn’t onerous. Our tour guide used these trips to tell us about the history and sights of the places we would be visiting. Plus snacks! You've got to have snacks on a road trip! Even on the longest drive, the time passed quickly and we were comfortable.
Our final destination today was Vieste, but we took a route that enabled us to visit Hadrian's villa at Tivoli.
The villa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes palaces, gardens, baths, and fountains, showcasing a blend of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian architectural styles.
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To quote Rick from his Rome guidebook: "In the spirit of Legoland, Epcot, and Las Vegas, he recreated famous structures from around the world".
The layout and design are massive. This, much like the Colosseum in Rome, had been aggressively pillaged to provide building materials over the years. Enough still stands, however, to really get a feel for the grandeur of the place.
The hedges in this photo are groomed to be the shape of the marble columns that used to line this area. It is a clever allusion as you walk the path.
There would have been a roof from the walls to the columns and a large pool in the center, providing a peaceful, shaded area to walk and get some exercise.
This image is of the Maritime Theatre, which was a complex with 35 rooms built on a circular island surrounded by a moat. It was very different from any other Roman architecture we encountered and we jokingly called it Hadrian's bedroom, since it is believed that it was for his private use.
The building in the back of this photo is of the guard's quarters. There were a huge number of guards and servants that had to be housed, and a series of tunnels has been found that are believed to have facilitated the movement of the staff away from the view of Hadrian and his guests.
Hadrian wanted to be able to get away from the noise of Rome and he created his villa to embrace the beauty of rural Italy. It was his haven away from the world. It remains impressive to this day.
Vieste
The town is built atop dramatic limestone cliffs and our amazing hotel, perched at the top of one, had an elevator down to a pool and beach on the Adriatic. Most days when we had a free afternoon there were so many things we wanted to do that it was hard to justify lounging around. In a spot this beautiful, however, it was hard to justify not taking some time to relax and appreciate the beauty. Many of our tour-mates agreed, and we spent a lovely afternoon swimming in the sea.
Vieste! What can I say about Vieste?
The town charmed us beyond words. The historic center of Vieste is a maze of narrow, winding streets lined with whitewashed buildings, quaint shops, and trattorias. Wandering through this charming labyrinth we stumbled upon hidden piazzas, medieval churches, and panoramic viewpoints that offered breathtaking vistas. Honestly, it felt like something out of a fairy tale. I hope we get an opportunity to go back again someday.
Our first night in town we all gathered for dinner at a charming restaurant with excellent food. The tables were set up on a walkway under an arch and it was a picturesque setting. There were great conversations and many bottles of wine.
In fact, that wine lead to an adventure in speaking Italian. We liked it so much that the next day we went back to the restaurant to see if we could buy some. We had cleared out their inventory the night before, but the gentleman walked us over to another restaurant to see if they had any. They did not, but pointed us in the direction of one that might. We headed over on our own and Bill had to explain to a woman who spoke no English what we were looking for. Time spent on language apps for the win! He was able to tell her what we were looking for and they did have it!
The Grottos of the Adriatic
While in Vieste we were treated to a boat tour that allowed us to really appreciate the rugged Gargano peninsula, which has a stunning stretch of coastline characterized by dramatic cliffs, secluded coves, and pristine beaches. As you can see in the photos, the water is an extraordinary shade of turquoise.
We had gorgeous weather for the outing and they managed to get the boat through some surprisingly small openings!
Try to sit on the right side of the boat. That's the side that will be facing the coastline as you sail out.
