Anguillara and Bracciano

Today Daniele and I went to the lake Bracciano and to the towns of Anguillara and Bracciano. The weather was not too cold, but on and off light rain. It's about 25 miles northwest from here. Both towns are on hills surrounded by walls. They have a small historical center and a newer part or second city below. This is actually pretty typical all over Lazio and Italy. Even Monterotundo is the same.

We first stopped at Anguillara, Daniele's favorite. It is really small and cute, but still has a supermarket and things in the new/downhill city. The historical center is a walled hill city, but it is right on the lake. It is just a few steps down to the port and the road along the water. There was almost no one there, now, in February; but in the summer the place gets packed. The place we wanted to have lunch was closed for renovations, so we ate at a place called Harvey's instead.

After lunch we went to the next town on the lake, Bracciano. This town is a little bigger and a little farther up from the water. What I loved about it was that there is a castle. A big one. Historically belonged to the Orsini family and still does. Never sold or anything, a woman just lives in there. Incredible! We covered the tiny historical center then went outside the walls looking for a nice view. There were old paths from the city to the lake going through the countryside. We passed sheep (pecore), horses (cavalli) and a donkey (asino pronounced ass-ee-no) who came right to the fence to say hi and pose for some pictures.

In this area there is also a spring of naturally carbonated water. People go with their own bottles and take as much as they want. The carbonation has something to do with passing under the volcanic ground. I don't understand 100%. We didn't have any bottles so we didn't go.

Speaking of bottles of water. In Anguillara, there were all these bottles of water on the ground. Apparently is is common knowledge in Italy that cats are freaked out by water; even the sight of it. So they put bottles of water in places to keep cats from peeing there. They were practically in every corner. I am fascinated by this theory and eager to test it on American cats.

[Edit] Link to pictures from this day:
https://picasaweb.google.com/kaitlyn.hanrahan/20110305LakeBracciano#