Category: Italy

  • Storm the Castle

    Storm the Castle

    And when I say “storm”, I mean that all afternoon the wind snarls at us; it billows our coats and drains tears from our eyes. Despite it, we inch up winding stairwells, peer from sunlit slits where hundreds of fingers released thousands of arrows, and walk on top and inside(!) of a mighty stone wall. The…

  • Day Trip to Deruta

    Day Trip to Deruta

    About fifteen years ago, when we’d been married just a year, Deruta pottery snuck in to our home. We were on a trip to Victoria, Canada. In a small shop, a jar meant for coffee caught my eye. I loved the unusual pattern and pallet of aqua, yellow, navy, and rust. On the bottom, the jar…

  • Gubbio and Dangling Cages of Death

    Gubbio and Dangling Cages of Death

    From Brigolante, it’s worth the 45 minute drive just to see the farmland and countryside from the winding road. But couple that with a promise to ride in “Dangling Cages of Death” – as named by Rebecca’s 7 and 10-year-old sons – and Gubbio’s draw is irresistible. This medieval town is stunning and steeped in…

  • Assisi and St. Francis

    Assisi and St. Francis

    Basilica di San Francesco and an assembly of ancient structures shape the Assisi skyline. This city does not tower above its base of earth, but mimics the hillside contour. Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, the son of a rich cloth merchant who came to devote himself to a life of poverty. St. Francis preached…

  • Brigolante

    Brigolante

    The air has changed. There is a faint scent of wood smoke; our arms are concealed by sleeves, our sandals stowed. Most days, clouds are still shy and the sun is still bold, but vineyard leaves shed their green and breezes whisper of winter. Umbria is aptly named, “The Green Heart of Italy”. Mountains and…

  • Italy through the Windshield

    Italy through the Windshield

    We like to travel by train, but in smaller towns it’s better to drive. On this trip, we’ve driven just over 2,000 kilometers and are so glad for it, because driving adds contour and context. From the car we see how some towns are quite modern, others full of industry, that farmland in the Fall…

  • Brunello, Pecorino, and a Church on a Farm

    Brunello, Pecorino, and a Church on a Farm

    All night wind whips the stone walls of Casina di Rosa; it raps at the windows, it rattles the shutters. In the morning, clear skies and sunshine come to replace it, but the wind is reluctant to leave. Despite the bluster, we have a day trip in mind. We want to see more of Tuscany:…

  • Of Windsurfers and Castle Ruins

    Of Windsurfers and Castle Ruins

    (Did you see the update on Charlie?) Civitella Marittima is an hour from the Mediterranean coast. We drive to the village of Talamone, a day trip because we want to see, well, the sea. We wander the village and admire the castle ruins perched at its peak – evidence of the town’s long, militant past.…

  • Update on Charlie

    Update on Charlie

    This morning we found this in our inbox: Ciao Marissa, Ciao Keith, Charlie is quite fine, he has to go to the vet everyday for medicine, probably today or tomorrow it will be the last day!!! Have a great day, Giovanna

  • A Day, both Wonderful and Sad

    A Day, both Wonderful and Sad

    I don’t know how to write this post – today was wonderful and sad. Wonderful because of Carlo and sad because a sweet, small dog was bitten by a snake. The dog, Charlie, is in the veterinary hospital right now and there is a good chance that he will live. I want to start with…