A Walk in the Woods

Robert had a flashback to his younger days and went for a walk in the nearby woods. The guidebook said that this would be an easy 3 hour walk.  Five hours after setting out, Robert returned.  The walk was far from easy with some parts being very steep.  The walk began at our apartment up to the path around the base of the Rocca and across the Ponte delle Torri (the aqueduct bridge).  Once across the bridge the path zig-zagged past small shrines through holy oak groves to the nearby town of Monteluca.

From there he walked to the village of Le Aie passing the ancient pagan monument to the holy woods.  The plaque has the oldest known environmental protection inscription, dating to the 3rd century BC.  The inscription reads "No one is to profane these woods, nor transport or take away what is found within, nor cut and if the day comes that they do, they must sacrifice...... If someone knowingly or maliciously profanes the woods they are to offer an explanatory sacrifice to Jupiter of an ox and there will be a fine of 300 assi for the sacrifice... " - pretty serious stuff!

After passing through Le Aie  Robert crossed a muddy creek and met a farmer, his wife and his 5 cows.  The track was overgrown at this point and followed the top of a stone wall before passing through a perforated rock tunnel which was the old watercourse to the aqueduct providing water to Spoleto.

From here it was downhill passing the Sant Giuliano monastery.  Then a steep descent back to   Spoleto.

The poppies and other wildflowers were spectacular.  There was plenty of wildlife to be seen including deer, wild boar and many lizards.