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…
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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…
For over ten years, Assisi has celebrated the newly-pressed olive oil with the UNTO festival, lasting this year from October 31 to December 1st (the period of picking and pressing of olives).…
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…
During an Assisi guided tour, tour guests often ask me if San Francesco is the patron saint of Assisi. Per niente! (“For nothing”, ie., “no way”). San Rufino, 3rd-century martyred bishop, is…
How do Italians celebrate important events? By joining together and feasting, logicamente. In the Assisi hills, the Feast of Santa Anna on July 26th, is celebrated for 10 days with passione –…
During a recent jaunt to Lake Fiastra (in the Marches region), we discovered that gem, the Rifugio di Tribbio, thanks to a tip from our daughter Giulia. Even if you are not…