Preci: From the Benedictines to Pork Butchers
Living on a hill overlooking Norcia…. …..the Benedictine monks – affectionately called by all “the Monks of Norcia” – are... View article
Anne's Blog / Traditions
Umbria’s Pasquarelle: Singing in the Epiphany
January can be icy cold in Umbria but a month of warmth, too: the warmth of the locals celebrating January... View article
Assisi to Greccio: On the St. Francis Christmas Trail
Pino and I headed into Latium to the Franciscan sanctuary of Greccio on our first icy cold December day. We... View article
Assisi’s Christmas Illumination
There’s usually a life-sized creche scene on the lawn in front of Assisi’s majestic Basilica di San Francesco, right across... View article
From Naples to Milan: Christmas Solidarity in Italy
Glorious Naples is not only the Italian capital of pizza but also of espresso; in fact, here in Umbria if... View article
The Orvieto Underground: Hidden Treasures
After you’ve viewed the splendors of the Orvieto Duomo (Cathedral) – taking in the mosaic splendor….. …and sculpted masterpieces on the facade –... View article
Winter Jazz in Medieval Orvieto: Usually
Even “freddo polare” (“polar cold” – which for Italy means anything below freezing temperature) – never deters jazz appassionati from heading to... View article
Near Bevagna, a Family Unites for the Olive Harvest
Quiz for the day: what is a “trunk-shaker with a reversed umbrella interceptor”? Here it is: It’s the mechanized tool... View article
An Umbria Olive Harvest, Past and Present
When we first harvested olives here in the Umbrian countryside in an icy December, 1976, the picking was all done... View article
Olive Oil Stars in an Assisi Festival
November is the month of the olive oil harvest all over Italy – and this year, it’s my month to... View article
Agenzia Viaggi Stoppini in Assisi handles all technical support for my guided visits (bus transportation, organization of meals, etc)