Drying out in Narni

At 6:00 AM sharp, our very hospitable host in Ostia drove all three of us and our bags to the Fiumicino Aeroporto.  Once we saw Ian disappear in security check, we started on our journey north.  Our first stop is Narni (the namesake of "The Chronicles of Narnia.") in southern Umbria.  We more or less picked the place because of its location on the map.  Did we luck out?!  The hilltop is enchanting.  A sharp departure from our modus operandi, we stayed in the lower town near the train stain for easy day tripping and closer to real Italiani.  We even got a frequent shopper card at the supermarket Conad, never mind we have no idea what it does; John - it's worth applying for just to have an interaction with the very pleasant Italians - relational goods.

Changing trains in Tiburtina Station.


One of Narni's "sights", the Roman Ponte di Augusto, has been visited by travelers since the Grand Tour's of the 18th Century.


Our hotel is in Narni Scalo, the lower, newer, section of town. On the walk up to Narni old town we pass a junction with signage for pilgrims and cyclists. Wow! In Italy a 100 km cycling route is considered "basic".


Stairs and Arches of Narni.


One of the old churches in town is now a lecture hall.


The Duomo is very cool, one of a kind, an obviously cherished by the locals.


The guide books differ as to whether this a colossal wood statue or simple a wooden figure. SL concludes it's colossal ie larger- than-life.


The most recent altar and crypt.




The older altar, screen and crypt is not directly under and aligned with the current altar (the norm) but is 90 degrees askew and half-way back to the entrance...


..and with remnants of the original mosaic floor.


View back to the Duomo.


Heading up to the Belverdere.


Views from the Belverdere.






The highest point in town is the old castle and tower - not yet open for the season.


After visiting the old town of Narni, we walked to the nearby (3kms) Geographical Center of Italy (Centro d'Italia). Here I climb a bastione along the way.




Following trail 654 - our Thursday Hike.




The path into the Centro d'Italia follows above the ruin of an old Roman aqueduct.


The Centro of Italia is adjacent to this Roman aqueduct bridge.


It's good luck to touch the top of the Centro d'Italia marker.


Sun-Ling consults the map has we head back to town.


Great views of old Narni as we walk home.


We enter town through a gate in the city walls.




Aperol is a good value at the local Conad supermarket. We also buy some prosecco and oranges and make our own spritz for happy hour. ;-)