Special Sub-Topic: A Grand Tour of Italy II Click Here To Play: A Grand Tour of Italy II

As we leave the hubbub of Florence behind we travel through one of the most underrated areas of Italy, that of Umbria and its magnificent hill towns. In Orvieto we admire the cathedral in its alternating layers of black and white stone, and the golden face of the cathedral ablaze in the reflected light of the setting sun. We tour a museum of artifacts from a mysterious pre-Roman civilization, whose tombs and other edifices dot the Umbrian landscape. What were these people called?

Etruscans. Their painted tombs can be visited, and arches supporting their roof can be seen, antedating the Roman use of the arch.

We pass through Perugia and Deruta, famous for its handpainted pottery, particularly of the designs from the civilization in question #1, and reach Assisi, the rival power of Perugia during the Renaissance. We come to a church built in three levels. What famous animal-loving saint is buried in the plain stone tomb of the lowest church?

Saint Francis. The middle church was heavily damaged by earthquake in the 90's, but has been restored. The Giotto frescoes were not damaged.

We leave the church and return to the car, finding every car in our vicinity with a ticket. We see no "no parking" signs and figure it was a mistake, so we toss the ticket and move on. As we approach Rome, we meet friends at the outskirts, who lead us through the traffic to our hotel. That evening, our friends take us to the fashionable "authentically Roman" section of Rome, dotted with cafes, restaurants, and trendy shops. The name of the quarter means "across the Tiber". Where are we?

Trastevere. The area has been inhabited since Roman times, the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere is probably the oldest site of Christian worship in Rome.

The next day we sightsee Rome in earnest. We enter a large square with a church, three fountains, and artists selling their wares. The largest central fountain is replete with figures and waterfalls representing four great rivers of the world. I also hear this large open space is used for track races, and is built above an ancient stadium. What is the name of this area?

Piazza Navona. The rivers represented are the Nile, the Plate, the Ganges, and the Danube, and the sculptor of this notable fountain is Bernini.

At Vatican City, the smallest nation in the world at 106 acres, we find all of the following except which?

Stables. There is also a heliport, gardens, and a judicial system with a prison.

We tour the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel, and the papal apartments of Julius II. We see the famous "School of Athens" painted on the wall. This famous artist, buried in the Pantheon, took 16 years on the project and died before it was finished. Who decorated the papal apartments?

Raphael. The frescoes replaced works by better known artists, including Raphael's teacher, Perugino.

On the outskirts of Rome, we see the remains of an old Roman road, dotted with old Roman tombs and aqueducts. What is the name of this road?

The Appian Way. The original cobblestones are still visible, and some sections are quite well preserved.

Everyone who goes to Rome must pass through the Roman forum. As we peruse the ruins, we look upon the hill where the rulers of Rome built their palaces,and the homes of of Augustus, Livia, Flavia, and Septimus Severus. What is the name of this hill?

Palatine. The huts of Romulus, one of the brothers raised by wolves reputed to have founded Rome in the 9th century B.C., are also located here.

Leaving Rome we head to Naples and the nearby ruins of Pompeii, in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. In 79 A.D. Pompeii was buried in 20 feet of ash and pumice. What is the name of the lesser known city buried by mud in this eruption? It is named after an ancient hero.

Herculaneum. Since the city was not buried in ash and pumice, most of the residents survived, unlike the 2000 dead in Pompeii. Excavation of Herculaneum began in the 1720's and continues to this day, due to a modern city being above the site.

South of Naples we drive along the famous picturesque stretch of coast along the Sorrento peninsula, with the road winding high above the water, and including towns such as Positano, Ravello, and Sorrento. What is this area called?

The Amalfi Coast. The American writer, Gore Vidal has relocated here, and the village of Positano is the starting point for the ferry to the garden island of Capri. Once again, we have been unable to finish our Italian tour. There is just so much to see, and then we've still missed so much!