Showing posts with label Umbria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Umbria. Show all posts

Monday, June 28, 2010

Assisi...

I apologize for the lack of blogging this morning! I am in the midst of packing and I have apparently added to our pile of belongings since being in Italy (imagine that!). So, I have been trying to find some things to leave behind...well, there are some books that I brought that I haven't read yet...so I read one today! I read 'Playing for Pizza' by John Grisham...if you haven't read it, DO! It was very humorous to Tobin and I...as we know just what he is talking about...SO TRUE!!! I enjoyed it very much...though I didn't get to the computer...

On to the adventuring...we went to Assisi last week. Assisi is another hilltown in Umbria. We had a beautiful drive (though rainy) on seriously windy roads...again, you haven't experienced an opportunity corner unless you have driven in Italy...


That pic was courtesy of Case in the backseat! Assisi has been put on the map as a pilgrimage spot. Many Catholics from ALL over flock here to see the places that Francis lived and preached. Outside of the old town, is a church that is a bit different than the rest...it has a church inside a church...no joke! They built the church around the tiny church that Francis preached...




Then in the centro is St. Francis Basilica. It looks kind of plain from the outside, but inside it is a whole different story. This one has an upper and lower basilica, with amazing frescos by Giotto...but unfortunately no pictures...apparently the flashes will harm frescos as they are pretty delicate, so no photos to share...




And a nice picture of the town...



Overall, it was a pretty nice day! It rained in the morning so it didn't get super hot (To get into all these churches one can't wear shorts...even the kids...they have a dress code...so on those hot days it can get really hot in pants).

Ciao a tutti!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Spoleto...

Moving along our Umbrian tour, we came to the lovely town of Spoleto. It's most fascinating feature is the Ponte della Torri (the bridge), built to get to the town on the next mountain...



Three good lookin' kids...



Inside the fortress of Spoleto...



Outside the fortress of Spoleto...


Overall, this was a pretty fun drive through the hills of Umbria. The roads have crazy curves, sometimes you go almost 180 degrees or more...makes for fun driving experiences!
Have a wonderful day!
Ciao a tutti!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Todi...

As usual...I am a bit behind in the old blog! So many things have been happening lately...more on that later! Anyway, 2 weekends ago we had our first real drive through Umbria and we visited a few hill towns in this very mountainous region. Umbria is called 'Cuore verdi D'Italia' or the 'Green heart of Italy'. It is the only land-locked region in Italy and is a very mountainous and green area...LOTS of trees!

Our first stop was the very hilly Todi...

Think grocery shopping up and down this street...

Random fountain...

3 cute kids and a castle...

The entry of the local duomo...

The inside of said local duomo...



Stuck a feather in his cap and called it 'macaroni'...

Have a wonderful day!
Ciao a tutti!