About a 2-hour drive south of Rome is the old town of Castro dei Volsci. For centuries, this was a border town at the southern extreme of the Papal States along the border of the Kingdom of Naples. As a consequence, at the time, it had both a military and commercial significance. Today, the King of Naples is long gone as is his kingdom, the core of which is now the Italian province of Campania.
Castro dei Volsci is also the town of my cousin’s grandfather, who lived there as a boy and started school. From the outskirts, the town looks imposing, perched on the top of a mountain. We drove up the narrow winding roads and eventually made it to the edge of town. At the old city walls, we parked the car, skeptical as to whether it was possible to drive though such a narrow gate. Within the walls, we met some wonderful people and were treated to beautiful sights of the town and the surrounding countryside.
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