Cappuccino Nostalgia in Perugia: a Fiftieth Anniversary

Today, as an elderly Umberto served me his famous cioccolato caldo con la panna (hot chocolate with whipped cream)….. ….what memories of nippy November mornings in Perugia in 1969. I had studied Italian in Perugia for three months that fall and my roommate Margaret and I had found a “deal” on a double room in…

Naples, City of the Infinite

I’ve written many times on one of my favorite Italian cities, Naples. A city to celebrate. A city always celebrating. A city of infinite pleasures. A city rich in human interactions. A city of life, of joy: transmitted in the lively, foot-stomping musica napoletana of the ebullient street musicians in the photo above. I once…

Pino’s Artistry: From Stonework to Culinary Creativity

Pino’s creativity has moved into the kitchen, now that retirement from stone restoration is (partially) underway (though not quite fully in action). His artistic bent lives on in his stonework masterpieces. Like the meticulous restoration work on the medieval tower in Spello…. ….and the medieval guard towers and walls of the lakeside hilltown, Castiglione del…

Pino’s Feast for Twelve: Orvieto Peppers, Peppa Asparagus…..and More

A recent dinner in our Assisi farmhouse cooked up for Mary and friends – Pino doing most of the dishes – actually started in Orvieto. The Orvieto Saturday outdoor market is a panorama of colors backdropped by the stately medieval city hall …. ….and while wandering there on a recent visit to our son Keegan,…

Sharing Umbria with Our Assisi Apartment Guests

Vicky, Mary, Dorothy and Christina, such pleasure to have you in our Assisi countryside apartment, sharing Umbria with you all. Mille grazie for your note, Vicky, letting us know that this pleasure was mutual: – “Dear Anne and Pino, It has been our great pleasure to share your magnificent home and family…. We have enjoyed…

In Bevagna, Butchers, Buttresses and Medieval Lore

Si! Certamente, ovviamente, logicamente the focus of an Umbria guided hilltown tour must be the art and history of this bellissima region, aptly called “Italy’s green heart.” But what makes a tour memorable? Meeting “the locals” – and opening closed doors you might simply walk past. Like the entryway to the Bevagna 17th-century palazzo where…

Pleasures for Us: Delightful Guests in Our Assisi Apartment

Jane, mille grazie for your “arrivederci” note to us which started with “your hospitality made this trip special for us! We are fortunate to have 91-year-old dad, Will, with us – and staying here, having dinner, visiting with you made him comfortable and all of us charmed!” Well, Will certainly charmed both of us. And…