On Friday got up early so we (Terry, Bill, Elizabeth of Carbernardi) could get the 7.15 train from Fabriano to Rome. We were on our way to an exhibition of Cranach in the Villa Borghese.
The weather in Rome was beautiful – sunny and warm. We walked up to the Villa Borghese where we met a couple of Elizabeth’s friends from Rome called Gian Piero and Clara and arranged to meet for lunch after the visiting the exhibition. The tickets cost 14 euros but for the price you got to see the Villa Borghese and the cranachs. I have always liked Cranach’s from when many years ago I saw his “Adam and Eve” in an encyclopaedia. The exhibition in Rome has over 40 of his pictures varying in size and subject matter but always with incredible detail and intense colours.
After the exhibition GianPiero suggested a restaurant called the Limonaia for lunch. It was in the grounds of the Villa Torlonia a 19th century residence of the Torlonia family which became one of Mussolini’s residences in Rome. A short, traumatic car drive through Rome’s lunch time traffic brought us to the Villa. The weather was so fantastic that we got a table in the sun. After a prosecco we ordered the food. All the others had pizzas but I had pasta dressed with courgettes, ricotta and mint – delicious and then we all finished with coffee.
 |
 |
Gian Piero and Carlo were a delightful couple. They spoke very clear Italian and conversation ranged from Berlusconi, to living in Rome to living with cats (they are cat lovers and have a cat called Andy. It was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.
After the meal they left us back in the centre of Rome and we drifted back to the station and got the 5.30 train back to Fabriano. It was a difficult drive back to Elizabeth’s in Cabernardi as we are now in the autumnal foggy season and it was difficult to follow the road in places. For our return Elizabeth had prepared a delicious minestone soup, followed by apple and walnut salad and then apple tart. A lovely end to a great day out.