Spello to Assisi

A rather strenuous but enjoyable day of hiking and sightseeing in Umbria, emphasizing among other things the stony terrain in this area and the solid structures built from that stone since medieval times and before.

Patio, stairs, and wall outside our hotel room in Stello

View from the nearby town of Collepino (population about 35)

A long and strenuous, but beautiful, hike on Mt. Subasio, 

which is covered in fragments of white marble

We encountered several herds of horses, including this mare and her newborn foal.

Afternoon in Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis. 

The flags are preparations for a medieval festival.

Characteristic stone architecture and arched doorway

Basilica of St. Francis, with a statue of the disappointed young Francis in front.

The basilica contains wonderful frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue.

Priest and pilgrim, outside the basilica

Umbrian Countryside

We began today by hiking through olive orchards to the small farming village of Osa, with picturesque abandoned stone farmhouses and pretty wildflowers.

We then drove to the Castello di Corbara winery, where we had a brief tour of the wine-making process followed by a fine lunch. Walking down to Lago di Corbara, we passed a llama who seemed anxious to join us.

The lake is a source of the Tiber river. Mussolini ordered a dam to be built to control the Tiber floods that often inundated Rome.

We ended the day with a visit to the Deruta pottery, which makes fine Majolica ware, and then to our hotel in Spello near Assisi.

Bolsena and Orvieto

We began the day by driving from the Umbrian hilltop city of Orvieto to a farming area about seven miles from the lakeside town of Bolsena, then walking along dirt roads into Bolsena.

The countryside was attractive, with large fields of yellow rapeseed 

about to be harvested, and impressive trees.

A small fraction of the hay stored in a farmer's yard

View overlooking Bolsena and Lago di Bolsena

After lunch at a lakeside restaurant we drove back to Orvieto and took a guided tour of this city, which dates back to Etruscan times and has great medieval and renaissance buildings.

Detail of the old cathedral, now superseded by the fantastic Duomo.

Street scene outside a municipal building

Three aspects of the incredible exterior of the Duomo

Rome to Orvieto

Today we drove along the Via Cassia from Rome to Orvieto. Our main stops were a hike along the Via Francigena (Pilgrim Way); the ancient town of Sutri, largely carved from volcanic tufa; and Civita Bagnoregio, perched on a steep eroding pinnacle in the middle of a huge canyon. Wonderful weather, and a lovely day.

A coffee to start our journey

Canopy of hazelnut trees in an orchard along the Via Francigena

Our group in the tiny church below Sutri, carved into the tufa

Detail of the elaborate floor in the cathedral at Sutri

Civita Bagnoregio with walkway connecting to Bagnoregio

Central square of Civita Bagnoregio

Terrace in Civita Bagnoregio, looking out into the canyon

Rome in the Evening

Two posts today. Early this evening we walked from our hotel, near the Forum, to the Jewish Quarter for dinner. Here are a few scenes along the way.

Statue of Augustus Caesar in front of Trajan's Forum

Vittorio Emanuel Monument

Men chatting in the Jewish Quarter

View from a bridge across the Tiber

Shiny cobblestones by streetlight

Appian Way

Today, the first day of our Rome to Ravenna tour, we took a van to the outskirts of Rome - outside the walls - and walked for a couple of hours along the Appian Way. We were lucky in the weather and enjoyed very attractive scenery and historical remnants, culminating an a lovely outdoor lunch in a historic restaurant. Here are some scenes from the day.

The Birthday of Rome

We arrived in Rome about noon today on an overnight flight from Atlanta. After taking the Leonardo Express train from the airport to Rome Termini, and a cab to our hotel, we found ourselves in the midst of a great throng of people watching an elaborate costumed parade of ancient Romans. Turns Out That this is the birthday of Rome, founded in 753 BC. It was very difficult to get good photos of the parade Because of the crowds, but here are some that worked out.