Times are changing. It seems as though all at once Viterbo has awoken from its torpor and once again embraced life. The weather finally broke. The string of 100 and 99 degree days dropped into days with highs in the low 70’s across 3 days. Feragosto ended and the temporarily empty streets were once again filled with cars and people. All of our colleagues, both American and Italian, have arrived back to the school.
On Friday, Amy and I drove with the new American couple, Steve and Pam, to San Martino al Cimino, a little town just outside of Viterbo to welcome this year’s crop of students to Italy. The busses pulled up and disgorged all of their passengers and luggage literally in the middle of the first measurable rainfall we have had in 3 months. During a break in the day’s activities, Amy and I decided to walk into the center of town and do some exploring.
San Martino al Cimino is a miniscule little walled suburb of Viterbo. Technically, it doesn’t even rate its own zip code although it is some 7 km or so outside of the main city. The main features of note are the city wall, built in the 1500’s more to discourage roaming vandals than to create a defensive bastion and a church. The city is accessed through the main gate, through which you can observe the church on the highest point in town.
After you enter, on the right, is a prime example of the shabby-chic I have blogged about before.
The main square has an interesting fountain with moss growing in the upper level at the end of a large parking area where people seem to just park randomly as they head in to do their shopping.
There was a Benedictine Monastery in San Martino in the 9th century, but the church is actually in a building that was part of a 13thcentury Cistercian Abbey.
The interior is in a dark gothic style.
Here we have Amy standing on the piazza outside of the church with the dark, foreboding sky whichy ushered in our change to lovely fall weather.
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