Ortano

 It was in December 1943. The face to face, house to house fighting was particularly savage. On 28 December, after 8 days of fighting, the depleted German troops finally withdrew from the town The Canadians suffered more than 1300 casualties, many of them buried in the Canadian Cemetery of Ortona.

We then went to our "Home-hosted" lunch. Local people of the town invite small groups of us to their homes and serve us lunch and let us ask questions about life in Italy and they ask us questions about our home. Delicious Food !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(to be continued) 

Ortano, »Little Stalingrad«

 Ortano is an ancient seaport on the Adriatic which dates back some 3000 years. The old town was a jumble of narrow buildings crowded together on a steep promontory thrusting out into the sea.

 It became an important battleground during the Italian campaign during World War II. Ortano offered the Allies a supply port on the Adriatic and was fiercely defended by the Germans. The struggle

between the German paratroopers and the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade attracted the attention of the international press, leading this battle to be known as Little Stalingrad."

(to be continued) 

Urbino Sooooo Good

 It is a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture.

The town is nestled on high sloping hillside and retains much of its picturesque medieval aspect. It and the countryside are beautiful.

We then took the bus to lunch, of course. Can't miss eating. Eating is part of the Italian culture. And it's sooooo good!!

(to be continued) 

Urbino

 AW, Grand Circle didn't come through with the thunder storm!! No rain!! Just a little overcast. So a great day!

Urbino is a walled city in central Italy. It's known for the turreted, 15th century Ducal Palace (Duke's Palace). 

Inside the palace, the National Gallery of Art features paintings by Titian and Raphael. Raphael was born in Urbino.

Urbino is also a university town.

(to be continued) 

San Marino

 Our tour guide, Silvia, told us that the local people of Pesaro aren't used to having tourists in their town yet. It's just opening up to tourists. So you will see in the photos that two local ladies stopped Silvia to ask what was going on with this large group of people she was leading around. She said they ask if she was a terrorist (I think they meant tourist!) Anyway, they had a lively conversation!

(to be continued) 

San Marino

 They tell us to embrace the unexpected. Well, they have certainly given us experiences we didn't expect!!

We came back to Italy from the country of San Marino. Pesaro is a small town on the Adriatic Sea, down the mountain from San Marino.

 It is known as "the city of music" because of Gioacchino Rossini, the famous composer born in Pesaro in 1792. He wrote 39 operas as well as some sacred music, songs, chamber music and piano pieces.

(to be continued) 

San Marino, Republic of San Marino

 We entered a new country today!! The Republic of San Marino!! It's the third smallest country in the World; next to the Vatican and Monaco. 

It is a mountainous micro-state surrounded by north-central Italy. Its capital, also named San Marino, is a medieval walled town with narrow cobblestone streets.

 Its Three Towers, castle-like citadels dating to the 11th century, sit atop the mountain peak.

(to be continued)