Rome is a bit busy these days, so when our ship docked at the port, we decided to go to a nearby medieval town, Tarquinia. The town dates back to the ninth century BC, and sits on top of a very steep hill overlooking the Tyrrhenian sea. 

The town is enclosed by medieval walls and watch towers. There are numerous churches and bell towers within the town, giving it a lovely profile. 

The old cobblestone streets of Tarquinia are  incredibly steep, so we were fortunate to take a trolley train (with a guide to narrate the history) through most of the old town.  

Fortunately it was Sunday when we visited Tarquinia, so one of the oldest churches (Santa Maria in Castello) was open for Mass. We were able to visit the interior of the church before Mass started.  It was striking in its simplicity and age. 

 

Our tour finished with a delicious gelato, and we were back at the port in no time.   

That evening we went into the city of Rome for an event sponsored by Crystal for its passengers on the world cruise. 

We were treated to a delightful evening of music and dinner at the Palazzo Colonna in Rome, a private museum. The chef who prepared the dinner will be responsible for the menu at one of Crystal’s specialty restaurants. One of his restaurants has 3 Michelin stars. The event was pretty amazing – and a great way to end the day.

JFB and MAM