The Capitolino, a citadel hill heavily connected to the myths that populate the origins of Rome, was the building ground to several temples, including a major temple to Jupiter. Nowadays, the post-medieval palazzi dominate the hill, with the overwhelming Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio in center stage.

The plan of the villa evolved as did Hadrian himself. Many of the places were named and built after Greek and Egyptian deities and influences Hadrian interested himself with, and the several additions to the villa reflected the eclectic life, love and travels of the emperor.

A teacher once told me there are two cities in the world that an architect needs to visit in his lifetime: New York and Rome. I had visited neither by the time I became an architect. Only when I wasn’t an architect anymore, did I get the chance to visit both.

All amenities aside, what won us over was the splendid book and magazine collection the apartment featured. All ranging from books on Russian orthodox art, to photojournalism magazines. There was something there for each of us. What captured my eye was a collection of erotic and psychedelic Italian comic books from the 70’s, and especially the character Valentina, penned by Guido Crepax

Terni, in Umbria, was stage to a massive bombardment by the Allied forces in WW2. Here lay a heavy chunk of the Italian wartime steel works, a strategic target for Allied bombers. By the end of the war, not much was left of the city, and it had to be rebuilt. Maybe as a result of that, a few buildings, monuments and infrastructure look heavily influenced by the modernist and post-modernist architecture movements, at least around the train station.

Samantha and Matteo, the soon-to-be-wed couple, came back from Milan, to their Umbrian family in Casteldilago, to celebrate their big day. The wedding troupe skipped between the church of Saint Valentine, at the very top of the hill, to the village museum, from the public garden to the local osteria.

High upon a rocky hill, the narrow streets of the village of Casteldilago, sheltered us from the harsh sun, yet, punished us with its steepness. The streets intertwined in organic patios, tunnels, and even backyards of residents.