Calendimaggio: See the Splendor, Live the Passion
Assisi’s glorious celebration of springtime, Calendimaggio, is above all una festa di amore, “a festival of love,” the love and... View article
Anne's Blog / Folklore
That Culinary Mosaic of Sicily
What joy to do the research for my most recent ZOOM presentation, “Sicily’s Age-old Culinary Mosaic.” Such fascinating new tidbits... View article
Italy’s Uplifting (Literally!) Pagan-Christian Rites
Treasures of Italy include the peninsula’s glorious festivals and in my ZOOM talk, “Italy’s Uplifting Pagan-Christian Rites,” you’ll live the... View article
ZOOM with Me Through Umbria and All of Italy
Who knows when I’ll again be able to share the wonders of Italy as a guide? Due to travel restrictions,... View article
Santa Rita’s Red Roses – Always
On May 22nd, the feast of the beloved 15th-c. Umbrian saint, Santa Rita di Cascia, I always take red roses... View article
Covid-19 Has Assisi’s Calendimaggio On Hold
May 5th, our second day of “liberation” from that full lockdown which has kept us all at home since March... View article
Terni, the “Love City” of Umbria
Just after Valentine’s Day, over one hundred engaged couples – each woman holding a rose – celebrated their love in... View article
Perugia: Celebrating San Costanzo with Il Torcolo
On January 29th – the Feast of San Costanzo (Perugia’s first bishop and one of the town’s three patron saints)... View article
With a Bonfire and Chestnuts, Assisi Awaits La Madonna
That huge crackling and spitting focaraccio (literally, “big ugly fire” i.e., “bonfire”) near Assisi’s massive medieval fortress, La Rocca Maggiore,... View article
Cannara’s Onion Festival: an Umbria Highlight
Sharing tasty food with family and friends is often a week-end outing in central Italy from early spring to late... View article
Agenzia Viaggi Stoppini in Assisi handles all technical support for my guided visits (bus transportation, organization of meals, etc)