Subiaco and Villa d'Este

I had a smartbox “a tutto svago” to use: I chose a rafting descent and a visit to the Benedictine monasteries in Subiaco (for two people); in reality we discovered that the visit to the monasteries was normally free (you only had to give a free offering) so the price of the smartbox was only for the rafting. We stayed at the B&B Belvedere and were happy there. The room was spacious and with a terrace, the breakfast standard, the owners kind. We paid 60 euros a night for the room, I couldn't find anything for less.

Since the descent was scheduled for Saturday morning we left on Friday and arrived at the B&B at dinner time: the view from our room was really lovely, especially at sunset! The rafting descent, organised by the “Vivere l'Aniene” association, was fun: the young people who accompanied us were friendly, the stretch of the Aniene we travelled was clear and not dangerous, you meet just a small waterfall and there are no particular rapids. It should be said, in fact, that it was Soft Rafting, so calmer than the one I had done in Umbria two years ago. In any case I recommend it, it was a great experience! This association also organises canoe or kayak routes, rock climbing and so on. In the afternoon we visited the two monasteries: of San Benedetto and of Santa Scolastica.

They are on a hill just outside Subiaco and can easily be reached by car, but we did the route on foot like true pilgrims, it is about 2 kilometres all uphill. Higher up is the monastery of San Benedetto (from Norcia), which can be wandered around freely. This place, where the saint lived for a long time as a hermit, left me a little perplexed: it should be a place of recollection and instead inside there were large and above all noisy groups! The visit inside the Monastery of Santa Scolastica, on the other hand, is done with a guide at set times and is therefore perhaps more interesting; I was very struck by the contrast between the neoclassical church and the rest of the complex. The next morning we took the short walk to the “Laghetto di San Benedetto”, nice but nothing exceptional, and here too the waters are really clear.

During the return we decided to stop in Tivoli to visit Villa d'Este. There was a long queue at the entrance but it moved fairly quickly. The villa is deservedly famous for its gardens and above all its fountains.