Mysterious artist Banksy will reign in Assisi until early November at an exhibition in our Papal fortress, the 14th-c. Rocca Maggiore: But how astonishing to recently discover works inspired by Banksy in the tiny village of Sugano (population about 75) just outside of Orvieto! I recognized “Girl with a Balloon” on the pink stucco wall…
As you probably know, Italians share good eating with gusto (“gusto” means “taste” in italiano!) to celebrate feast days, milestone occasions, holidays and holydays, too. Ferragosto (“August holiday”) on August 15th is both of those: a national holiday and the Feast of the Assumption, a holyday. And what a feast we shared this year: four…
Joining in a local village food festival – la sagra – will certainly be a highlight of your stay in Umbria. And not only here in Umbria: le sagre animate local life all over Italy from springtime to late fall, generally for a period of about ten days. The “sagra” is often dedicated to a…
While in Italy, don’t miss joining in a village food festival – la sagra – if here from springtime to late fall. Enjoy highlights of the area’s culinary specialties shared with “the locals” – who might conclude their sagra evening with ballroom dancing to live music. Recently, Pino and I took our farm friend, Peppa, to…
All over Umbria – and in many regions of Italy – from springtime to late autumn, local village food festivals – le sagre – draw together the locals in feasting — and often after dinner, ballroom dancing to live music. Pino and I recently joined local neighbors at a sagra near our house, in a mountain area…
Our visits to Pino’s family in Cardillo (small borgo of Palermo), always include a stop at the artisan workshop/showroom of Nino Parrucca, creator of colorful Sicilian maiolica splendor. His varicolored ceramic creations greet the visitor upon entry to the showroom where large creations of painted tiles line the outside walls: Inside the showroom, multicolored clocks adorn the walls….and…
Bolsena’s patron saint, 4th-century martyr Santa Cristina, is celebrated by the local bolsinesi with grandissima passione in two days of glorious events, July 23rd and also on the 24th (the Saint’s feast day and date of her martyrdom). On the night of July 23rd, the beloved Santa Cristina statue (early 15th-century, Sienese) leaves her Basllica di…
The grandissima passione of the Italians headlines every one of their astounding festivals. And if you’re in Italy on May 15th, don’t miss the Corsa dei Ceri festival in medieval hilltown gem, Gubbio. That “Race of the Candlesticks” is in honor of mid-12th-c. bishop, Saint Ubaldo, patron saint of Gubbio buried in the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo perched on…
In early May, four days of medieval majesty in Assisi start with a blessing. The blessing of the banners of La Nobilissima Parte de Sopra (“the Most Noble Part of Upper”) take place in the Cathedral of San Rufino, focal point of “upper Assisi.” “Upper Assisi” (Sopra) is that area on the western end of…
Pino and I are often invited for a “simple” lunch at Peppa’s, elderly rural friend living here in the Assisi countryside – who quite simply prefers company at mealtimes. When calling me to invite us for meal, she’ll nearly always say, “Ma non ho molto da offrirvi oggi..” (“I don’t have much to offer you…