As you walk through Assisi’s main square these days, you’ll hear metal clanging as workers set up the grandstands. Posters of medieval personages adorn Assisi notice boards. Blue and red flags flutter in the breeze over Assisi’s meandering medieval alleyways.
Grandstands going up these days in Assisi
Red flags flutter over Lower Assisi la Parte de Sotto streets
Blue flags flutter over Upper Assisi la Parte de Sopra streets
Posters adorn notice boards
In the stone-vaulted medieval taverne of Assisi’s two rival factions, la Parte de Sopra (“Upper Assisi”)and la Parte de Sotto (“Lower Assisi”), locals and visitors join at the plank tables to savor the goodness cooked up by volunteers. As we would say here, “e vien Calendimaggio” (“Calendimaggio is coming”..or better yet, “Caledimaggio is just around the corner”)…
Volunteers cook up medieval goodness in the taverne
If you’re in Assisi May 4, 5, 6, 7, join me in the grandstands to take in the splendors our stunning May festival, celebrating the re-birth of spring. If you’re here late April and most of early May, don’t miss feasting in the taverna of la Parte de Sopra.
Nowhere else, please: our family is from Sopra!
…..and what goodness there today: gnocchi con fave. And la porchetta, of course.
Gnocchi con le fave
On an Assisi guided tour this morning, we’d stopped at the taverna of Sotto, enjoying a chuckle with the inn-keeper there..though he was in red, the color of Sotto. Glad I was wearing my blue coat: matching the blue flags flying over the part of Assisi called la Parte de Sopra.
Sopra (blue!) vs. Sotto (red)
A peaceful moment between two of us from rival Parti: before the competitions start on May 4th.
We are counting the minutes!
Read – and see! – euphoric medieval passione in Assisi during Calendimaggio
Click here to see – and FEEL! – Calendimaggio splendor
Click to read about Assisi’s stunning medieval festival, Calendimaggio
Click here to read more about Assisi’s glorious Calendimaggio
Read about the passione lived during Calendimaggio – and not only.
Click here to read about pre-Calendimaggio “fever”
Read about a late April a pre-Calendimaggio Assisi event
Click here to read about – and see – the “blessed” beginning of Calendimaggio
Read about an early May Umbrian festival not to miss
Click here to read about passione in Umbria’s astounding May festivals
Great being with you Anne in lovely Assisi!
Your knowledge and passion for Umbria is infectious!
Cheerio,
Simon
Greetings Anne! Being back in Umbria and seeing you again is a dream come true! Assisi and Umbria in early Spring is a joy!
So happy to see you and your tours going strong and that others are finding out what I found out six years ago that your passion and knowledge of Umbria is second to none.
Looking forward to enjoying some of Calendimagio with you! Rosemarie
Simon, Rosemarie..so good to share these days with you…come back!