In October of 1999 my Division Officer, LT Terrence Dudley, and I traveled from VQ-2 at
Rota, Spain, to Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples, Italy, for a Mediterranean Public Affairs
conference. During the day we sat in seminars on military public affairs issues. At night we
explored Naples, Amalfi and, on our last day in the country, drove to Rome. (Trivia note: I was
only a Yeoman Third Class back then, and was the only Enlisted Sailor at this conference!)
Rota, Spain, to Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples, Italy, for a Mediterranean Public Affairs
conference. During the day we sat in seminars on military public affairs issues. At night we
explored Naples, Amalfi and, on our last day in the country, drove to Rome. (Trivia note: I was
only a Yeoman Third Class back then, and was the only Enlisted Sailor at this conference!)
Naples at night. Left is the 13th Century Cathedral,
built during the reign of Charles II of Anjou and his
son, Robert. At right is the Triumphal Arch, the entry
to the Piazzo Municipio of Charles I, built in 1279.
The arch was added as a fictitious depiction of
Alphonso of Aragon's defeat and dethronment of Rene
of Anjou in 1443.
built during the reign of Charles II of Anjou and his
son, Robert. At right is the Triumphal Arch, the entry
to the Piazzo Municipio of Charles I, built in 1279.
The arch was added as a fictitious depiction of
Alphonso of Aragon's defeat and dethronment of Rene
of Anjou in 1443.
Mt. Vesuvius towers over Naples in the haze of an autumn
afternoon. The peak on the mountain's left and the scarp
descending to the right from it are the remnants of the caldera
left over from the famous eruption of 79 AD that destroyed
Herculaneum and Ponpeii, both of which lie south of the
volcano (on the opposite side of Vesuvius in this photo). The
newer, conical peak on the mountain's right side has been
growing slowly for centuries. As late as WWII it regularly
vented gas in a graceful plume of smoke. Since the late 1940's
the venting has stopped, suggesting that the vent is blocked and
pressure is growing again. This mountain is still active, only
slumbering. When it erupts again, it will be a disaster of epic
proportions. -Click image for a higher-res version-
afternoon. The peak on the mountain's left and the scarp
descending to the right from it are the remnants of the caldera
left over from the famous eruption of 79 AD that destroyed
Herculaneum and Ponpeii, both of which lie south of the
volcano (on the opposite side of Vesuvius in this photo). The
newer, conical peak on the mountain's right side has been
growing slowly for centuries. As late as WWII it regularly
vented gas in a graceful plume of smoke. Since the late 1940's
the venting has stopped, suggesting that the vent is blocked and
pressure is growing again. This mountain is still active, only
slumbering. When it erupts again, it will be a disaster of epic
proportions. -Click image for a higher-res version-
Amalfi, an hour south of Naples by car. This is some of the most expensive
real estate in all the Mediterranean region. Amalfi is but one of these ancient,
scenic towns that is situated on the rocky cliffs over looking the sea. As
sunset falls (below right), one can begin to understand why Michaelangelo
painted with the colors he did. Well after the dark the cathedral (right) is lit
brightly and the town square is packed with locals and tourist alike (below)
-Both rightside thumbnails are a clickable links to higher-res images-
real estate in all the Mediterranean region. Amalfi is but one of these ancient,
scenic towns that is situated on the rocky cliffs over looking the sea. As
sunset falls (below right), one can begin to understand why Michaelangelo
painted with the colors he did. Well after the dark the cathedral (right) is lit
brightly and the town square is packed with locals and tourist alike (below)
-Both rightside thumbnails are a clickable links to higher-res images-
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. This small city-state,
located in the heart of Rome on the Tigris River, boasts
the largest Christian Church in the world. This is
"New" St. Peters, built to replace the old basilica of
Constantine. It's construction began in 1377. On this
site was Nero's circus, where St. Peter was martyred
and his remains buried in a tomb on a graveyard hill
called the Vaticanus. -Image is a clickable line to a
higher-res photo-
located in the heart of Rome on the Tigris River, boasts
the largest Christian Church in the world. This is
"New" St. Peters, built to replace the old basilica of
Constantine. It's construction began in 1377. On this
site was Nero's circus, where St. Peter was martyred
and his remains buried in a tomb on a graveyard hill
called the Vaticanus. -Image is a clickable line to a
higher-res photo-
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. The great dome
was designed by Michaelangelo, who only lived long
enough to see it completed as far as its base drum.
The mosaic tiles on its interior are larger than a
human hand, it is taller than the American Space
Shuttle. 537 stairs lead to its summit;
Michaelangelo designed an ingenious system of
spiral ramps inside the basilica's walls to allow mule
teams to haul the masonry to the cathedral's roof to
build the dome. -Image is a clickable line to a
higher-res photo-
was designed by Michaelangelo, who only lived long
enough to see it completed as far as its base drum.
The mosaic tiles on its interior are larger than a
human hand, it is taller than the American Space
Shuttle. 537 stairs lead to its summit;
Michaelangelo designed an ingenious system of
spiral ramps inside the basilica's walls to allow mule
teams to haul the masonry to the cathedral's roof to
build the dome. -Image is a clickable line to a
higher-res photo-
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. One can see the
people on the observation deck if you look
carefully. For centuries tradition held that this
dome and the altar below were built directly over the
grave of St. Peter. During the 1930's secret
excavations were carried out to expand the
catacombs without the Nazis learning of the work.
During the digging a crypt was discovered directly
under the altar and dome. This crypt was covered in
frescoes and depicted the name "Peter" several
times. Inside the simple crypt were the bones of a
1st Century man who had been crucified. Seems
archaeology provided some evidence that this
basilica was built exactly where it should be. -Image
is a clickable line to a higher-res photo-
people on the observation deck if you look
carefully. For centuries tradition held that this
dome and the altar below were built directly over the
grave of St. Peter. During the 1930's secret
excavations were carried out to expand the
catacombs without the Nazis learning of the work.
During the digging a crypt was discovered directly
under the altar and dome. This crypt was covered in
frescoes and depicted the name "Peter" several
times. Inside the simple crypt were the bones of a
1st Century man who had been crucified. Seems
archaeology provided some evidence that this
basilica was built exactly where it should be. -Image
is a clickable line to a higher-res photo-
