Another great weekend! We were able to slide in a relaxing day at the pool and some sightseeing too!
But first, to the freezer....This is the last haul, not to shabby!
And this is what we picked today...
Friday night we decided to give the grill a rest and went out to eat right down the road at La Roccia - it means "The Rock".
Great food and of course....
Gianni and Consiglia went back to Sicily this weekend so we had dog and pool duty. And we took full advantage!! We spent all day Saturday lounging by the pool! What a great relaxing day! We did get a little crispy though! But we've decided no matter where we end up moving to...we need a pool!!
This is Willy, he's a pain in the butt! Very "jumpy", young and excitable. So, in an attempt to keep him busy for a little while, we give him and his sister Carlotta big chunks of old bread... It works for a little while! Willy ended up burying this one...
Stu trying to keep Willy in one spot for 2 seconds...Good luck!!
This is Carlotta, she's a big bear.
What a cutie!
Catching some ZZZZ's after a hard morning and while there is still some shade!
Sunday we left the house early, in an attempt to beat the heat... Off to see the Ampitheater in Capua...
But first cappuchino and a Zeppole...Yummmmm!
This was an interesting building along the way, unfortunately we couldn't find any information about it.
Ta Da! Here we are... beautiful!!
The construction of this amphitheater predates the coliseum in Rome by 100 years. The Coliseum in Rome was completed in 80 AD. So, it's thought that the Capuan amphitheater was constructed sometime between 30 BC and 1 AD.
Off in the distance is the Gladiator's Museum, we'll hit that later.
Unfortunately, the ticket office was out of map/guides and it's hard to believe, but there really isn't a lot of information on this wonderful sight!
There's my little gladiator!!!
We tried to beat the heat, but even early it was MELTY!
To the underground!
Throughout the structure, there are stairways and ramps; elevators brought the animals, gladiators and scenery up from vaulted chambers beneath the arena. Crowds were controlled by a system of numbering tickets to match gate numbers, and by stairs leading directly to the various levels - techniques that are still used in modern sports arenas. No crowds today though...we had the whole place to ourselves!
There was a lovely cool breeze down there, but we had to move on...
"Oratiorm" is carved into this stone, translated from Latin that means:
We tried to beat the heat, but even early it was MELTY!
Spartacus, the slave leader, began his revolt at Capua in 73 bc. A Thracian by birth, Spartacus served in the Roman Army, perhaps deserted, led bandit raids, and was caught and sold as a slave. With about 70 fellow gladiators he escaped a gladiatorial training school at Capua in 73 and took refuge on Mount Vesuvius, where other runaway slaves joined the band.
This site is both beautiful and tragic at the same time...tragic in the fact that it is so neglected. Nature is reclaiming the theater...
To the underground! There is an extensive network of tunnels below the stadium floor. The tunnels are littered with fragments of the great ornaments which once adorned the amphitheater.
Throughout the structure, there are stairways and ramps; elevators brought the animals, gladiators and scenery up from vaulted chambers beneath the arena. Crowds were controlled by a system of numbering tickets to match gate numbers, and by stairs leading directly to the various levels - techniques that are still used in modern sports arenas. No crowds today though...we had the whole place to ourselves! A fig tree growning upside down from the top of one of the arches!
There was a lovely cool breeze down there, but we had to move on..."Oratiorm" is carved into this stone, translated from Latin that means: prayer, speech, address, oration.
Doesn't this look kind of like a Flintstone doorway! I guess in a way it is!
This is the highest point that remains. The amphitheater originally had four tiers. The pinnacle that is shown in this photo was once part of the third level.
The keystones were adorned with the heads of divinities.
Stu was trying to get some perspective on the size of the stones used in the arches...
A quick stop to munch on some blackberries...yummmm!
Here you can see one of the curving passage ways beneath the seating area. Notice the rectangular openings which let the sunlight in to illuminate the corridor.
Tombs just outside the ampitheater.
Ornamental debris...
Inside the Gladiator Museum.
Ciao Capua, thanks for a great day!
Doesn't this look kind of like a Flintstone doorway! I guess in a way it is!
This is the highest point that remains. The amphitheater originally had four tiers. The pinnacle that is shown in this photo was once part of the third level. The keystones were adorned with the heads of divinities.
Stu was trying to get some perspective on the size of the stones used in the arches...
A quick stop to munch on some blackberries...yummmm!
Here you can see one of the curving passage ways beneath the seating area. Notice the rectangular openings which let the sunlight in to illuminate the corridor.
Tombs just outside the ampitheater.
Ornamental debris...
Inside the Gladiator Museum. 
Ciao Capua, thanks for a great day!
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