Saturday 11th Octcober

We commenced the day by visiting the Church of St. Peters in Chains to see the Statue of Moses by Michelangelo.  We then went outside the city walls to see the Catacombs of St. Callinto (St. Callixstus?)  - the tombs of various Saints and early Popes, including that of St. Celia.

Returning to the center of the city we saw the Monument to Vittorio Emanuel (II).  Again no mail for us at the post office.

We joined the crowds and filed past Pius XII laying in state in St. Peters Basilica.  It was most impressive!

I then managed to sneak a photograph of the Stuart Memorial, without being seen by the Papal guard!  Once again we returned to the hotel rather worn out!!

Friday 10th October

Coliseum, Rome

We commenced the day by visiting the Coliseum, the Forum, the Arch of Constantine.  We then proceeded to the River Tiber, St.Angelo Bridge, and Castle St. Angelo.


Roman Arch

Castle St. Angelo &River Tiber

Awaiting the body of the Pope

After lunch we gathered with the crowds outside St. Peters and waited until about 5.30p.m. to see the coffin of Pius XII passed by, into St. Peter’s from Castle Gondolfo (where he died).  Our long wait was rewarded, as we were quite in the front of the huge crowd, and managed to get some photographs as the coffin went slowly by.  It was most moving , with many hundreds of priests and monks preceding the hearse.




Funeral of the Pope



Pope Pius XII entering St. Peters

Utterly exhausted we returned to the hotel in the evening.

Thursday 9th October

We arose early and managed to get a couple of lifts, which took us to the youth hostel at Monte Sacro district of Rome.  Before entering the Eternal City we learnt the death of Pope Pius XII, earlier that morning.

After leaving our kit at the hostel, we visited the tourist office, the post office (no mail!), and St.Peter’s.

I had great pleasure at discovering the Stuart Monument in St. Peter’s, together with a monument to Clementine Sobieski.

The death of the Pope does not appear to have greatly affected everyday life here!!

Wednesday 8th Octcober

We left Naples and hitch-hiked north via Terracina.  We were unable to reach Rome that night so we pitched camp on a site 90 kilometers south of the Eternal City.  The site was allowed us by a family living in a large red house quite close to the road.  They kindly supplied us with cakes and washing facilities, but forgot to warn us about the rats.  Their rats, very large and hungry, soon made an appearance and tore our shopping bag to shreds and made off with our bread.  They almost made off with my washing kit!  This was too much so we de-camped and made off down the road.  We managed to find a petrol filling station, where the attendant allowed us to sleep on the office floor.

Tuesday 7th October

We visited the ancient city of Pompeii today.  Greatly impressed by its great size, fine streets and theatre.  Pompeii lies almost 26 kilometers south of Naples, and we reached it by train.

Monday 6th October

We landed at about 11a.m., and following an excellent lunch proceeded to the youth hostel in the Posillipo district. Naples is quite a beautiful city with an excellent bay, with the Isle of Capri quite close, and Mount Vesuvius dominating all.

Mt Vesuvius, Naples

Sunday 4th October

Felt frightfully ill all day! 

In the evening we passed through the Straits of Messina.