We visited the Catacombe di Santa Domitilla, one of the largest of several catacombs in the southern part of Rome. It was particularly moving for us to witness the tombs of Christians who died in the early centuries of the Common Era and to see frescoes of Christ, the apostles and St Petronilla, as well as symbols of the Christian faith inscribed in marble and now set into the walls of the tombs.

Back in the sunshine we enjoyed a walk along the Via Appia Antica (Old Appian Way) which was once the most famous of all the roads that radiated from Rome to the ends of the Roman Empire.

It was lovely to catch the sound of a busy woodpecker amidst the cacophony of birdsong and to sense the threshold of spring as we followed this ancient way.

 

A wonderful day in the medieval town of Tarquinia. We wandered the winding, ancient streets then visited the Etruscan necropolis of Monterozz outside the town walls.

The necropolis has about 6,000 graves, the oldest of which dates to the 7th century BCE. About 200 of the gravestones are decorated with frescos and offer a fascinating insight into Etruscan life and death.

A visit to the National Museum of Tarquinia helped us appreciate the beauty of Etruscan art and sculpture, much of which was discovered as grave goods in the tombs.