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
Anne's Blog
Christmas Links: Greccio and Assisi
For periods of contemplation, meditation and restoration ,St. Francis of Assisi often withdrew to various retreats – grottoes, caves, primitive... 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
Lighting Up for an Assisi Christmas
On this December 7th at nightfall, we weren’t able to gather around the towering blazing bonfire – il focaraccio (literally, “big ugly fire”)... View article
Umbria’s Prized Olive Oil: the Perfect Christmas Gift
Why not give gold as a gift this year? “Liquid gold”: Extra-virgin olive oil of Umbria, “Italy’s green heart.” Our... 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
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)