Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The fine 1949 Alfa Romeo...

Each year many thousands of lucky tourists take a Mediterranean cruise. Then, to arrive at Rome, they get to dock here.

This mighty fortress welcomes them at the entrance of the port of Civitavecchia. It's called the Rocca Giulia (or Forte Michelangelo) and was designed by Bramante under Pope Julius II (and then later Michelangelo did some work on it).

The fortress was begun in 1508 and completed in 1535. It was bombed during the war, but still survives and is fantastic to explore (sometimes they have art exhibits in it). There is even a chapel off its main cortile, where St. Fermina lived for some time, just before her martyrdom in 304 A.D.

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