This is the fourth summer we have spent at our modest home in Umbertide. By this time little rituals have sprung forth. At the Wednesday market, we chose from the various multi-colored petunias and geraniums deciding on the perfect ones to sit outside in the window boxes located on each floor of the building. This … More The Fourth Time’s a Charm!
Today is a holiday in Italy. It is the day that commemorates Italy becoming a republic. Somewhat like our Fourth of July. In Umbertide they celebrate with a dog show. No, it is not Westminster. The dogs and there were many of them are family pets, most of the indistinguishable breeds. Italians are just as … More June 2nd
After a challenging and most stressful year, we arrived much too tired in our home away from home in Italy. The house has not changed and we welcomed the serenity it offers. After a couple of hours of restorative sleep, our first thought was of food. Laura, a neighbor, has a wonderful restaurant a block … More Welcome to Summer, Italian Style
We received an invitation to an art show about 45 minutes north of Umbertide. The exhibition was located in a palazzo (palace) in the center of the historic district. It is only open to the public once a year, so in addition to seeing paintings, we were able to glimpse a little bit of an … More Another Saturday Night in Umbria
Across the street from our house in Umbertide is a piazza. It is an excellent place to walk to see people enjoy a coffee or a glass of wine. Recently I discovered the area is actually made up of two piazzas. The second one looks like a parking lot but upon inspection, this seemingly common … More Piazza April 25th
I am a list maker. I can’t get through my day-to-day life without them, experiencing an exquisite thrill as I check off each to-do. I am making progress. Therefore despite the fact that there is no time to do nothing, beauty abounds, and the culture encourages the art of enjoying the moment, I am somewhat … More Learning to Relax
Coming to Italy while always special is now a regular part of our traveling. This is the first winter trip for both of us and it is the first time we have spent alone in our new home in Umbria. Unlike the summer, the “Green Heart of Italy” is wet, dark, and cold in winter. … More Umbrian Winter
Tucked atop a mountain in central-eastern Italy is the tiny republic of San Marino. Considered to be the oldest republic in the world with a constitution dating back to 1243. The people of San Marino chose not to become part of a unified Italy in 1861 and Giuseppe Garibaldi honored their wishes. A winding road … More Upward to San Marino
Umbria is a very beautiful province adjacent to Tuscany. Its hilltop towns rival any in Italy. My favorite is Perugia. You can walk the perimeter of the old city and view the vast green and terra cotta vistas. Having previously toured Perugia, we stopped only for lunch on our way to Deruta. A one-line excerpt … More Under the Umbrian Sun
After more than a half dozen trips to Italy, it was with great anticipation that I planned a family trip to Tuscany. Renting a three-bedroom villa, I imagined my son, daughter, their spouses, and my grandchild enjoying trekking through small mountainous towns and viewing the cultures that began in medieval times. I learned a huge … More Vacationing With Family