Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Southern Lazio; Lunch in Cassino, War in Venafro, back to Rome


After Visiting Monte Cassino we drove down to the town of Cassino (dating back to the Volsci people as early as 5th century B.C.) and had lunch at Civico Sociale. Great food and a fun history of its own. As for the Civico Sociale story: "Years ago, two kids who came from troubled families in the south of Italy were taken to foster care in Cassino. They lived in Cassino for many years, went to school there and made friends. When they were approaching their school leaving exams, the family they had lived with decided to take the chance and help them open a restaurant, so that they didn't have to go away to work.
Three years later, their Civico Sociale restaurant is an acclaimed successful story. Not only they're fantastic in the kitchen and at tables, but they also share a full committed philosophy of engaging with producers who care for the environment (they serve so called 0km products, meaning food that comes from farms and producers nearby, often organic and biodynamic) and for social and legal fairness, therefore buying many products from farms which were established on lands confiscated to the mafia and camorra criminal organizations and which were given to cooperatives of young workers." (Vanessa Ianni)
Once we were well fed we departed for Venafro. Here we visited one of the most fascinating war museums I’ve ever seen, Winterline. Almost everything in the museum was found by the owner Luciano Bucci. When he was a young teen he asked for a metal detector, not a skateboard. Over the years, Luciano scoured the war-torn mountains of this WWII battleground known as Winterline. 
He made the decision to not make his museum a political statement, but a view into the daily life of all the soldiers, regardless of which side they fought for. His findings are grouped into clusters on lifelike mannequins representing different scenarios. 
The artistic detail is amazing. His museum has earned him worldwide respect amongst veterans, and he proudly points out the gifts from men who’d fought in this arena. He even replicated the art he discovered in a cave on the walls of his reconstructed cave inside the museum.
Vanessa drove us back to Rome (after we walked through ancient Venafro with Luciano to get a gelato). My brain was numb with information. I told her I would have to wait until I got home to blog about this three day whirlwind tour. 
The drive gave us some time for her to explain how her tours work. The amount of tours we did in three days can be done by you if that’s what you want. I would prefer a slower pace, but the entire region wanted to be in on the “Travel Writer from California.” I didn’t have the heart to tell them I wasn’t that important.
ItalyIndeed has designed itself to meet that niche of people who want to go on a tour of their own choosing. In other words you pick where you want to go: Abbeys, crypts, ruins, museums, cathedrals, wineries, hikes, castles, truffle farms… whatever you want to see. Vanessa can arrange tours throughout Italy, but my focus was this charming region of Southern Lazio. I will be back, of that I’m sure. Next stop... Bahamas in October.

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