Pompeii – No Words are Adequate

Everyone knows of it.  It is ubiquitous for volcanic eruptions in the world.  Everyone has heard of the volcano, Mount Vesuvius, covering Pompeii with 19 feet (6 meters) of flowing ash, burying everyone and everything in AD 79. It was not truly searched until it was archeologically explored in early 1800s.   The sheer size of the Continue reading Pompeii – No Words are Adequate

AGRITOURISM – Truffle Farm

The ridge between northern and southern Umbrian forests grows the magical black truffles famous in many Italian dishes.   On our hike to the ‘ecotourism’ Bartoli Farm, it begins to rain as fog rolls in and covers the mountains with mist. ( Patrico sul Monteluco,  agriturismobartoli@yahoo.it) The farm is a working farm and is available for dining tourists and Continue reading AGRITOURISM – Truffle Farm

Sacred Woods of Spoleto

“Andiamo, Let’s Go!”  Heading toward Spoleto, there is a mountain road that leads to “sacred woods”.  Old growth forest rewards you after many harrowing hairpin curves in a tour bus.  It is quiet.  Moss is growing on trees and the paths have wooden cross fences. It is raining lightly. Our guide was from Spoleto and has memories of Continue reading Sacred Woods of Spoleto

St. Francis Assisi Basilica

A protest against cutting ancient trees demonstrated by these stumps deposited in the Assisi main square. Our tour group gathered together for the walk down, down, down through Assisi from the Center Square to St. Francis’ Basilica. An African Franciscan monk was our guide in English.   The Basilica is two churches built on top of Continue reading St. Francis Assisi Basilica