“It is a rare travel experience when you don’t feel like an outsider just passing through,” wrote Diane to me after her recent stay in our Assisi apartment, Il Nido Tranquillo.
Her few days here were full ones. On her first day here, a full Assisi introduction as she joined in one of my guided tours. That’s usually how any stay in our apartments start: whether you choose our “Tranquil Nest” apartment in the Assisi backstreets or in our countryside guesthouse, getting to know Assisi should launch your stay.
Meeting the people rounds out our guests’ experiences. As Diane put it, “…..you can actually feel like a resident of Italy and Assisi in only three days…… when you are with Anne, and you get to meet everyone in town who then treats you like you have lived there forever…”
You’ll meet our rural friends too: just ask Diane about Peppa and the Umbrian rural banquet in her farmhouse. That savory soup, Peppa’s oven-roasted chicken and potatoes, seasoned with rosemary (and not only), the salad from her garden. And that bruschetta, toasted on her wood stove, garlic-rubbed…and drizzled with the new olive oil.
Diane and Peppa
Bruschetta goodness with the just-pressed new olive oil
Diane with Peppa’s son, Giancarlo and Pino, enjoying soup
Peppa’s roasted chicken and potatoes – right from her wood stove oven
Centerpiece on the table that night was the large jar of just-pressed olive oil (deep green as it should be!) brought by son Giancarlo – joining us with wife Monia – who’d just harvested their olives.
Diane relishes the new olive oil – amazed at the color!
Pino, Diane and Monia – with that amazing olive oil!
We connected with Monia the next day, too – at the textile outlet of her family. See the photos of good times there – and Diane learning to tie, Italian-style, her new cashmere scarf.
Monia teaches Diane how to tie her new cashmere scarf
Monia and her staff send Diane off with her new purchases
Afterwards, on to the caseificio to buy the freeh cheeses we’d have for dinner at our house (Diane’s “arrivederci” dinner). But lunch together first in one of my favorite trattorie where Diane tried Umbrian goodness.
“This one looks good!”
Salute!
Cacio e pepe – the specialty of this trattoria
Your stay was too short, Diane: come back soon!
Read Diane’s full comment on her stay- and those of other Nido Tranquillo guests
Read about – and see!- our Assisi “tranquil nest” apartment
Click here to read all about the adventures of guests in our countryside apartments
Click here to read about our countryside guest house visitors.
Click here for more on Peppa – and our other rural friends
Oh, I was kind jealous reading this post….Diane eating at Peppa’s table, Pino & Giancarlo chatting over dinner & Peppa with her watchful eye making sure everyone is happy & enjoying her labor of love. I was transported right back to Assisi. And, then there was the trip to the beautiful wool shop….Monia is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing your beautiful spot on the planet.