Rush hour. Ora di punta as the Italians say. It's already dark. I'm shopping.
I pay my money, I take my chance. Laden with bags I dodge the Italian cars once again. A pretty young woman has just sped past me in a new 500. She's not seen me. She's not seen anyone. Separate a Neopolitan from their cellulare and that's a risk I'm not prepared to take!
On the Roman bridge I pause to take in the beautiful sunset. Tra monto in Italian- across in the mountains. In this case across the river Volturno below. The wind becomes stronger. It's time to head for home.
Home? Si in Capua. This attractive traditional Italian town in Caserta province has been my home for less than a month. Yet I feel I know it somehow. Maybe you do too?
Nowadays a town of 19,000 inhabitants. Twenty one centuries ago Cicero, the famous Roman orator, described it as 'the Second Rome'. Old Capua is the modern day Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Situated on the VIa Appia, the ancient Super Highway leading to Rome. It was founded in the ninth century BC and flourished thereafter due to the abundance of produce the rich volcanic soil here makes possible.
Evidence of this pre-Roman past lies all around us. An example is the temple of Diana Tifatina, in Saint Angelo, 3 miles from Capua. Built by the Samnites in the 5th century BC, it has remained a place of spiritual importance to the present day, with a Catholic Church being built on top in the first century AD. From the terrrace you can see see Vesuvius on the left, the Naples coast, the isle of Capri and the Ausonini mountains. At sunset it's breathtaking!
In fact this whole area invites closer inspection.Rich in natural and architectural beauties, with Pompeii and Herculaeum only a 40 minute journey away , Oplonti, Formia and Cuma even closer.. Evidence of a glorious past lie all around. A past that we know something about, a past that repays further investigation.
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