Pino and I are often invited for a “simple” lunch at Peppa’s, elderly rural friend living here in the Assisi countryside – who quite simply prefers company at mealtimes. When calling me…
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All over Italy, the outoor weekly markets offer tempting local goodness, seasonal and not only… In February, many stands at the Friday morning Bastia Umbra market near Assisi displayted juicy oranges and…
When Italians wish to get a smile for a photograph, they urge “Dici ‘cheese!” Many of the photographed subjects don’t even know the meaning of “cheese” but they obediently repeat it with…
The creche scene competition (Concorso Presepi) is always a highlight of the Christmas season in Assisi – for the first crèche scene was a “living” one created by San Francesco in 1223 in…
Magnificent illumination highlights Assisi’s medieval monuments during the Christmas season. Quotes of San Francesco – beloved patron saint of all of Italy – are incorporated in the illumination of the splendid 13th-c.…
A tractor adorned with fiscoli – those discs used in olive mills during the pressing – stood alone near the medieval church of Spello, Santa Maria Maggiore, an olive tree standing tall…
In late November, nets had been spread out under our olive trees as preparation for our harvest. One of our maremano sheep dogs surveyed the scene: In this video, you can see…
Don’t overlook open church doors in Spello: one actually opens to the studio of a talented artist who creates his wonders in the de-consecrated church dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo. A poster…
Not just Giuseppa’s generosity abounds – as Doug and Wendy wrote after lunch with her – but so does the goodness! Let Becky and Marcello’s group tell you about the joy of…
A rural feast with Giuseppa in her farmhouse in the Deruta countryside is one of the highlights my Deruta tours. Simply ask George and Michelle. And here’s Michelle’s comment on our Deruta…