Pbenjay's Blog

AND TO THINK I THOUGHT A COLONIAL BUILT IN THE 1700’S WAS HISTORICAL!!

Raphael offered to take us to see some ancient ruins IF we could be up and ready by 8:30am on Thursday morning.  Ugh, the thought of being showered and out of the apartment by then was distasteful BUT an opportunity to see something with Raphael, would certainly be interesting.  It was wonderful for us to see Italy through the eyes of an Italian who spoke English.  We knew how lucky we were to find not one, or two but three locals to  whom we could turn to when only English would do and not my fragmented Italian.

So  armed with cups of strong Italian coffee, we took off for parts unknown.  Peter let me sit in the front which was a bonus and a tribulation.  I got to listen to and speak to Raphael easier than if I sat in the back BUT as we careened down the mountain’s curved roads and through some very narrow little villages and more mountain roads, I clung to the armrest on the door of his little Fiat.

We arrived to a time and place that up till now only existed in ancient history books.  It was a beautiful sunny morning and this national landmark was open to all at any time.  No parking lots, no tickets to buy, no lines to stand in – just history in its purest form!

Altilia was an ancient Samnite town in south central Italy.  This area was heavily invaded and within the walls of this town, you can see influence from Romans and Greeks as well.  Although the ruins are not outstanding, it was the most serene place to be on sunny late spring morning.

Look closely and you can see the image of a bird’s head and beak.

One of my favorite photos showing the aqueduct system running through the foundations of the houses. Hot water ran under the stone homes to heat them in the winter.

Some pillars are still standing from one of the two temples in Altilia. Temples to Jupiter and Apollo had been erected there.

The remains of the town’s amphitheater remain fairly intact.

Imagine these walls, built so long ago that the town itself was captured by the Romans in 293 BC

I learned so much about Sepino (Altilia formerly) from Raphael – I have to repeat how lucky we were to have his company and expertise guiding us through these ancient ruins.  He is a very intellectual man, a former professor and a student of sociology and philosophy.