More than once Pino’s construction company has taken on restoration tasks in the nearby region of Le Marche (the Marches), just to the east of our region of Umbria.
When I am free, I like to accompany PIno on his jaunts to check out possible future projects in preparation for putting in a bid; after all, wherever one heads in Italy, treasures might be discovered.
And in any case, splendid landscapes enoute are guaranteed.
On a recent early February trip to Meriggio, the snow-toppped peaks of the Marches region’s Sibillini mountains backdropped small villages clinging to wooded hills along our route to Meriiggio.
Meriggio, a rural borgata (hamlet) is now abandoned.
A couple Meriggio homes have been restored, like the one in the photo below backdropping agricoltore (farmer)Maurizio, Pino and geometra (draftsman/surveyor) Luca who’s in charge of the restoration project of Maurizio’s crumbling stalls (damaged in the 2016 earthquake).
After they viewed the restoration site together (me following and making a video of our walk) and Luca headed off to his next appointment, Maurizio and Pino talked about the restoration challenges (hand gestures logicamente) punctuating their discussion:
As they chatted, I looked out at the tiny (pop.122) hilltop village of nearby Acquacanina just below. Meriggio is a borgata (hamlet) of Acquacanina.
Nearby, the bell tower of the medieval – and recently restored – Benedictine abbey, Abbazia di San Salvatore a Rio Sacro di Meriggio, backdropped a restored farmhouse and another crumbling won awaiting restoration.
For me, that “architectural duo” of restored and unrestored represented Meriggio
I’m not sure if Pino will decide to bid on the restoration project of Maurizio’s rural buildings including the stalls of his sheep and oxen.
As we left, I noted the sign indicating the direction to Maurizio’s rural buildings where he perhaps once sold his ricotta and cheese:
Hopefully, that rural goodness will continue to draw visitors to Meriggio.
Read here about a favorite spot in nearby Fiastra
See my video of our Meriggio visit
Read here about the Sibillini mountains.
