Delicious Italy

Best September Day out near Rome with no car

This summer more Italian citizens stayed at home than went on holiday.

A combination of a general lack of purchasing power and, just perhaps, a boom in things to do in the cities.

Not least Rome, especially along the River Tiber as part of Roma Estate.

Also a chance to catch up with friends and generally hang about in the capital, not so easy to do at other times of the year.

So, if people did go away it was for a number of short breaks, long weekends or majestic days out.

For one more fine day out from the Eternal City, as September cools but the sea remains warm, we suggest Nettuno. 

Your day would be something like this:

- Train from Termini Station early morning.
- Short walk through the centre of Nettuno to enjoy a quick coffee before paying entrance to one of the managed beaches.
- Swim and final top up tan. 
- Sandwich for lunch and checking out along the front the old Spanish fortress and Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie dedicated to Saint Maria Goretti.
- Back to the beach. As the onshore breezes die away, fresh water shower.
- Walk to the new marina to gawp at the sail boats, then enter from the port into the splendid old walled Nettuno.    
- Fried fish supper with a bottle of local white wine.
- Last train home. 

Miracle Salads

There are some great lines from knock about toga comedy films over the years, most of them unintentional.

The ones that get us giggling most are 'Infamy, Infamy, why have they always got it in for me!' uttered by Kenneth Williams in Carry on Cleo, and, 'Thrace thrice', we think by Phil Silvers as Marcus Lycus from the Richard Lester film 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'. Both, funnily enough, made within two years of each other.

Wind on almost 40 years to the real Forum in Rome and you can enjoy 'Caesar - more than just a salad!', a new offering by the Miracle Players who take over the cobbles around the Mamertine Prison every summer.

A non-profit organization and under the patronage of the Ufficio Spettacolo of the Rome City Council, the Miracle Players have been been performing their 40 minute improv. style street theatre for a few years now, with clear influences being the Comedy Store Players of the 1980's and Reduced Shakespeare productions to give you an idea of what it's all about.

Gallic King Vercingetorix might not have been splitting his sides here 2000 years ago, but you just might after a hard days summer slog around the capital.

So rest you feet and get there for 7.30pm any Friday evening from June 22 until August 10, 2007.

And best of all, its absolutely free.