Perugia’s Rocca Paolina: Papal Power Manifested
In the 16th -century, Perugia was described not as just one of the loveliest cities not just in Italy but... View article
Anne's Blog / Umbrian Hilltowns
Perugia’s Collegio della Mercanzia: Medieval Guildhall Elegance
Perugia’s most prestigious medieval guildhall? Certainly that of the Nobile Collegio della Mercanzia (the Noble Merchants Guild), already active in the... View article
Perugia’s Biblioteca Augusta: Iluminated Manuscripts and More
In 1872, Henry James spent a week in Perugia, Umbria hilltown and one of the region’s two provincial capitals, lauding... View article
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
Those “Monks of Norcia” and Earthquake Restoration
Best known as birthplace (in the late 5th-c A.D.) of San Benedetto, founder of western monasticism, and his twin sister... View article
Assisi’s Living Crib Scenes: Remembering a “Profound and Mysterious Event”
For many in Umbria, Christmastime is inextricably linked to visits to the presepi viventi (“living crib scenes”) of medieval villages surrounding Assisi.... 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
Ceramics of Orvieto: Artisanal Masterpieces Spanning the Ages
Perched on a porous volcanic rock plateau, the geology of Orvieto is characterized by layers of volcanic materials, such as... View article
In Orvieto, from Beato Angelico Majesty to Luca Signorelli Humor
As you enter the Cappella di San Brizio in the Orvieto Duomo (cathedral), the venerated Madonna di San Brizio will be facing you,... View article
On Stage, Etruscan Splendor in Orvieto
What has always uniquely characterized Orvieto is the harmony of the surrounding countryside with the tufaceous rock plateau on which... View article
Agenzia Viaggi Stoppini in Assisi handles all technical support for my guided visits (bus transportation, organization of meals, etc)