| Slow start on a rainy and overcast day. After picking up some drinking water at the local market (the tap water is not very tasty) we decided to head up to the Cittadella (the Citadel) the walled fortress atop the highest hill. It was cold, wet and windy but we decided to postpone exploring the various museums for another day as the weather made the lighting ideal for shooting photos. We entered near the Cathedral of the Assumption and wound our way up to impressive views of the countryside below. Corroded cannons were stationed at various outposts along the way. Walls within created a maze of streets, marked by name at intersections. We wound our way around the perimeter of the fortified structure before coming back out onto the street below. At the base of the walls are several holes dug into the rock, neolithic grain storage silos that went down into the earth as evidence of an early (agri)culture. We meandered on back streets, stopping for a lovely shared lunch of a "cheese pie" from a shop on St Francis Square. Then back past Pjazza Indipendenza (Independence Square). As it is Sunday most of the shops were closed. We continued on back streets past St Francis School and the Mother's house of the Poor Sisters of Clair. Consulting Google Maps on Jo's phone we found Villa Rundle Gardens, a delightful public space with sculptures intermingled amongst the gardens. Back at the apartment we heard a cannonade that we assume was fired from the Cittadella as well as several peels of church bells that we have heard all day. |