Villa Taverna

I finally made it to the gym this morning. I can't remember how long it's been, but the hiking in Capri last week seemed to make up for it. After lunch, Josh and I decided to flaunt the varco laws (again) and drive into town for a caffe' and a passegiatta.

We parked near the Trinita dei Monte and walked over to the Pantheon. By this time, we'd changed our minds and decided to have a gelato instead -- caffe' flavor. The Piazza was completely packed with tourists, but it didn't detract from the grandeur of the Pantheon. We strolled back towards the Piazza di Spagna, window shopping, and enjoying our gelato along the way.

By the time we returned to our villa, it was time to pick the kids up from school. The weather had been strange today; raining on and off and it was very humid. For the first time in a long while, I laid down to have a brief rest in the afternoon.

Tonight, we went to the AWAR Gala hosted by the U.S. Ambassador, David Thorne and his wife Rose, at their Roman home the Villa Taverna. This is the largest piece of private property within Rome and it's located in our neighborhood, just around the corner from our street. Everyday, on the way home from school, we drive by the 15 foot high stucco walls that surround Villa Taverna, and the armed guards at the gate. Finally, it was nice to see what's behind those walls.

Surprisingly, the property sits at the level which is on top of the walls. In other words, the walls act like a kind of cliff. But the gardens are so extensive, and the home itself is set right in the middle, that the entirety of this bucolic oasis is invisible from the streets that surround it.

The party was very intimate -- only 100 or so guests. The Ambassador and his wife mingled among us. We sipped prosecco with fresh strawberry juice, as well as that vino bianco we'd just discovered in Capri; the falanghini wine from Campagnia was being served. We enjoyed an extensive buffet of antipasti, dolci, and fruits along with live music from a string quartet.

The evening was designed to raise money for charities and as such there was a silent auction. We came away with a hotel stay in Saubadia, a town not too far from Rome with suppossedly incredible beaches and sand dunes that we'd been wanted to visit before our departure. Now we are going for certain.

We met the house manager, Matteo, through our friend Nicole. He is a charming, young man and allowed us to tour a portion of the property with him. There is an amazing pool with its own adjacent gardens, next door to the newly built (not with tax-payer dollars I was assured) underground wine cellar.

The entire evening was delightful and it was great fun to see friends and enjoy a party in this amazing setting.