Frequently asked questions –
Are cats everywhere in Capena? Yes.
Can I park near the house?
Casa Galilei: The Rocca is a car-free area. The best place to leave your vehicle is the new car park, a couple of hundred metres away on Via Silla, shown on the map of the old quarter on the Maps page. It’s safe, and floodlit at night.
Casa Marconi: The house is on a narrow alleyway with no parking, but you should be able to find a parking place within 20–30 metres of the house, or in the car park on Via Silla.
What about parking in general?
The vigili urbani (traffic wardens) are quite strict. Make sure you park in a marked box. Don’t leave your car in the car park near Piazza della Libertà and the football pitch on a Friday night, because it will be towed away to the car pound in Monterotondo on Saturday morning when the market is held (I speak from bitter experience).
As a general rule, it is best to park your car in one of the designated spots and walk, because everything in the village can be reached easily on foot.
Does the house have a swimming pool?
The swimming pool at Selva Grande
No, neither of Casa Capena’s properties have a garden or a pool. There are two excellent swimming pools 10 and 20 minutes away from Capena by car (one of which is shown in the picture) and directions to these are included in your information pack. The pools are only open during the Italian school holidays, from mid-June to end of August.
We love Tuscany. Will we love the area around Capena as much?
Lazio and the Provincia di Roma are very different from Tuscany. If you dream of cypresses, sunflowers and the trappings of Chiantishire, Capena is not for you. If instead you wish to enjoy a genuine, unpretentious Italian experience as part of a warm and friendly community complete with breathtaking ruins stalked by cats in the best Roman tradition, you will be richly rewarded.
Does the house have ADSL/broadband?
Yes, a wireless connection is available at both Casa Galilei and Casa Marconi.
Is the house suitable for disabled people/wheelchair users?
Casa Galilei: No, due to the large number of stairs and cobbled pathways.
Casa Marconi: The entrance is at ground level, but the bathroom is upstairs. The stairs have a handrail.
Can I smoke in the house?
No. Smoking is not allowed in either of the houses. Also, since 2005, the law has prohibited smoking inside bars and restaurants. However, the Bon Café on Piazza della Libertà seems to have found a uniquely Italian way to circumvent the edict, should you wish to smoke indoors. In summer, of course, there’s seldom any need to seek shelter.
