When you walk Assisi, the medieval splendors leap out at you around every corner. Panoramic vistas spread in the valley below. You’ll want to try to capture the magic in your photos. Today’s cameras seem to do a pretty good job. And then you wander past the shop of Assisi-born photographer Andrea Angelucci.
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The day after the Festa, Oct 5th, the town becomes an open marketplace as the annual street fair, la Fiera di San Francesco, winds its way through the medieval alleyways of the town. Very early in the morning, 150 vendors (from all over Italy) set up their booths and most of Assisi is a street market until sunset.
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“You’ve brought the world to us,” Olga once told me with a hug after a banquet dinner at her home. Olga and Americo have warmly welcomed everyone into their home and both treasure memories of happy evenings with Americans, Australians, Canadians, South Africans – and not only! – around their table, savoring Olga’s cooking, enjoying…
Montefalco, noted for its fine Sagrantino wines, loom-woven linen textiles and the stunning Museo of San Francesco, hides many a secret as well. Suor Giovanna is one. She remains – for me – a Montefalco highlight. An Augustinian nun and follower of St. Clare of Montefalco, 14th- century medieval saint, she lives in cloister in the convent attached to the Church of St. Clare.
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In the late 90’s, in a moment of pazzia (madness), I decided to try for the official authorization of Guida Regionale dell’Umbria.
Here in Italy, only authorized guides may offer tours. Sanctions are severe and unauthorized guide abusive (“illegal guides”) risk heavy sanctions.
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Ah, Perugia, “city of the infinite view”, as Henry James wrote. Pre-Roman Etruscan city gates, a stunning 13th-c. fountain, frescoed and wood-inlaid guild halls, a majestic medieval courthouse, a 15th-c Papal fortress, a stunning frescoed pastry shop and meandering picturesque backstreets all entice. And not only. Alot more to be discovered – if your wanders head you in the right direction.
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Finding the hidden backstreets in Bevagna[/caption]Bevagna offers something to every visitor. The 1st c A.D, mosaics of the Roman baths – hidden away in the backstreets – astound. If you can locate the personnel to open it, the tiny 19th-century frescoed theater delights.
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Built in local pink limestone like Assisi, medieval hilltown gem Spello wins over any visitor with its flowering backstreets, Roman remnants,medieval churches, stunning Renaissance frescoes and one of Italy’s top wine cellars . But don’t leave Spello until you’ve found Brother Paul.
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The best “aftermath” to my February/March U.S. cooking lessons/lectures tour are notes like this one from Mary (who joined in and cooked with me in Pennsylvannia in mid-March- and then cooked our dishes for her family on Easter):
“Anne,
My sister Connie and I made the above dishes for Easter dinner along with Italian Easter bread…
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What a gran finale to this 7-week tour! Host Kathy’s words to me are a gran finale in their own right: “i look forward to our classes every year. And every year, they are better than the last! It is so rare to see people who are all so happy – and they beam all the time they are here. Cannot wait to do this again …and again …and again.”
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