Giuseppa Rural Feast – a Memorable Moment in the Deruta Countryside

Linda and Tim and their wonderful gruppo joined me this fall for a memorable Deruta rural feast. See their enthusiasm in these photos – and taste the goodness!   All were enchanted- and not just by the rural goodness. See a few comments: Lunch at Giuseppa’s is…..a truly authentic adventure which most travelers are not fortunate enough,…

Feast of St. Francis, October 4th: Valle d’Aosta in Assisi

Every year for the Feast of St. Francis, one of the 20 regions of Italy brings the oil which will burn all year in front of his tomb in the Basilica of St. Francis – for San Francesco is the patron saint of Italy. This year, that honor went to the Valle d’Aosta (often called…

In Cascia, Saffron Stars – and Not Only

At the end of October, Pino and I headed into the bellissima Valnerina (Nera River Valley)…..  ….on our way to Cascia, medieval mountain town where St. Rita died in the mid-15th-century. Annually, the Mostra Mercato dello Zafferano di Cascia (“Show and Market of Saffron of Cascia”) animates this mountain town: As we arrived huge white tents…