Near Deruta, a Rural Summer Feast with Giuseppa

In the Deruta Countryside, a Rural Summer Feast with Giuseppa

Tour guests, Kerry and her parents, Judie and Bill, joined in recently for a banquet with rural friend near Deruta, Giuseppa. The family prosciutto with an organic melon was just a tidbit as a starter. Little did they know what was to come! A buonissima pasta all’amatriciana followed:  the tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil..and pancetta…

Castello di Postignano, Umbria Feudal Splendor in the Valnerina

Ah, Italy, land of the endless discoveries.  And although we’ve lived in the glorious region of Umbria, “Italy’s green heart,” for over fifty years, Pino and I are still continually discovering new treasures. For his early July birthday this year, we decided to explore the Castello di Postignano in the splendid mountainous Valnerina area in…

Ustica, Sicilian Island of Chromatic Allure

Ustica, Sicilian Island of Chromatic Allure

Aquamarine and varied shades of blue highlight the waters of the Sicilian island of Ustica, not far from Palermo. Over the years, our many trips to Palermo  – hometown of my husband Pino – have almost always included a few days on this island gem, where the one small village of Ustica rises up on…

Spello Infiorate: Floral Majesty for a Feast Day Celebration

Floral tapestries carpet the winding medieval streets of more than one Umbrian town for the Feast of Corpus Domini (60 days after Easter – and June 2nd this year.,) but Spello, Umbrian gem not far from Assisi, takes the stage. This year, 40 floral carpets adorned the medieval alleyways as welcome to the sacred Host…

In Assisi, Seeking That Floral Splendor of the Infiorate

The Feast of Corpus Domini is celebrated wtih astounding floral splendor in the flower tapestries winding through Spello’s medieval backstreets – as you can see in the Spello Infiorate Facebook page. Thousands arrived in early morning to take in the splendor as the multitudinous Infiorate (°”flowerings”) were being complete in preparation for the procession winding through…

Calendimaggio in Assisi: Just a Glimpse of “La Passione”

For four days in early May (May 8 – 11 in 2024), the assisani unite in grande passione in their festival celebrating the arrival of spring, Calendimaggio. Work goes on for months prior as la Nobilissima Parte de Sopra (“the Most Noble Part of Upper Assisi”) and la Magnifica Parte de Sotto (“the Magnificent Part of Lower Assisi”)…

Near Deruta, Feasting with Giuseppa

Near Deruta, Feasting with Giuseppa

My Perugia/Deruta tour is a favorite…and a rural feast with dear Giuseppa at her farmhouse near Deruta is always a highight of that day. Recent tour guests, Scott and Sheryl can confirm that as you can see in this video. Giuseppa started our feast with the Umbrian cheese bread –  starring in an Umbrian traditional…

Calendimaggio in Assisi: Lady Spring Will Reign

Madonna Primavera – Lady Spring – will reign in glory over Assisi’s early May festival, Calendimaggio. On April 30th, five damigelle (damsels) from “Upper” Assisi, La Nobilissima Parte di Sopra (“The Most Noble Part of Upper Assisi”) in elegant medieval dress pastels and bearing bouquets of spring flowers paraded slowly, elegantly into a small piazza near…

In Umbria, Blessed Easter Cheesebreads for a Special Breakfast

In the Umbria countryside, our rural neighbors still bake even more than a dozen cheesebreads in their outdoor bread ovens…or nowadays, in their indoor gas ovens. Our dear rural friend, Peppa – now over 80 – used to bake her multitudinous Easter cheese breads in this outdoor oven near her farmhouse: This year, she made…

Holy Thursday in Assisi: An Evocative Tradition Lives On

As you enter the 13th-c. Cathedral of San Rufino in Assisi, head to the right to see the baptismal font where St. Francis and St. Clare were both baptized; following this tradition, all the Assisi children are baptized in this church but in a side chapel. A bouquet of lilies crowned the baptismal font during…