For over a century the majestic marble statues of the Apostles and beloved Orvieto patron saints were exiled from their home, the magnificent Duomo. In 1897, the sixteen Mannerist/ Baroque statues lining the nave – sculpted by various artists from the late 16th to early 18th centuries – had been removed during a “restoration” intended…
My Perugia/Deruta tour is a favorite among tour guests and not just for the many splendid treasures of Perugia but also for one near Deruta: her name is “Giuseppa.” Just ask Linda and her friends. After our morning guided tour in Perugia, we headed to the countryside near Deruta for lunch at the farm of…
As you head out of the coffee bar and into the dining room of Ristorante Da Giovannino, look up and and you’ll see the gold plaque from grateful clients celebrating Da Giovannino‘s one hundredth anniversary. The plaque was a mille grazie from a few of us “non-locals” (Jan and Caroline are Dutch) to Mauro (son…
Mille grazie, Paul and Shira, for your arrivederci note to us just before leaving here in November. And little, Alma, your drawings of our cats, Miga (your favorite!), Giulia and Muzio will always be treasured. Your three kitties are smiling as if already anticipating your return: For days after your departure, Miga sat on the…
It’s become a tradition now for us every December 30th: our anniversary lunch (or dinner) is always enjoyed at Trattoria del Moro Aronne, tucked away in Orvieto’s medieval backstreets. We’re always in Orvieto for a few days at that time, taking in the joys of Umbria Jazz Winter. In colorful photos of jazz musicians on…
When you’re near Orvieto’s splendid Duomo at lunchtime… …… you might want to head to Da Pippo, just steps away, for a bite – or a sip of local vino. We stopped in recently for a pre-lunch aperitivo….with perhaps just a few stuzzichini (“appetizers” but literally, ” little teasers”). Just inside the entrance, Pippo was…
Just after Valentine’s Day, over one hundred engaged couples – each woman holding a rose – celebrated their love in a church linked to Valentines, the Basilica di San Valentino, where the patron saint of Terni is buried. A pair of linked hearts in front of the 17th-c church were frames for couple-photos during the…
In Assisi, Il Giorno della Memoria (“the Day of Remembrance”) was not just one day this year but many. The city of Assisi put together a veritable portfolio of events to commemorate January 27th, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. An event had commemorated Don Aldo Brunacci, the priest who provided safe hiding spots for over three hundred…
Efthimios and Amanda, we’re so very appreciative of the comment you wrote about your January stay in our Assisi countryside apartment: “Thanks for looking after us like family, Annie and Pino! We had a beautiful time and were very grateful for all the treats!.….. Stefanos, we loved your note, too: “The best time here was…
When asked to comment on the twenty works she’d donated to Todi, the ninety-seven year old sculptor, Beverly Pepper, had said, “Many of my monumental works reach to the sky, seeking a tie with the landscape..” I reflect on those words now as I look at my photos of inauguration day, September 14, 2020 of…