I T A L I A 2 0 0 5
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Our group (some 14 couples) was due to meet at our two villas late afternoon on Saturday, 25 June. We decided to visit a few small towns in Umbria en route to the villa in Tuscany. We began our morning in Gubbio. Ed and Lindy had last been there on June 8, 1987, Lindy's birthday. (We know for sure because Ed picked a flower for Lindy at the Teatro Romano which he pressed and framed. He picked another one for her on this visit and it too is now framed!) We then made stops at each of Spoleto and Montefalco, tiny towns known for their views. At approximately 6:00PM, we arrived at the villa and found the party well underway.
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Teatro Romano near Gubbio |
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Our reunion in the Teatro
Romano |
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A view of the streets of Gubbio |
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One of Gubbio's municipal buildings |
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Gubbio -- a view down |
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Lindy on a terrace in Spoleto |
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A view of the town of Spoleto |
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Looking down a street in
Montefalco, "The Balcony of Umbria" |
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The piazza in Montefalco |
Sunday, June 26, we opted for some “down time.” We all went to the local market and then Vic and Ed prepared a feast and we enjoyed a wonderful, leisurely lunch. It was a great way to enjoy the villa and a day off.
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Our Villa! |
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Poolside at the villa |
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Vic & Barb and our pasta luncheon with Peroni beer |
On Monday, June 27, Ed and Lindy headed out solo to Perugia. The old town is accessed via an amazing network of moving stairs installed in Etruscan tunnels under the current city. Primarily a college town, it's also the home of Perugina, maker of fine chocolates and other sweets. We enjoyed our day in this lovely town. Then, we had previously arranged for a tour at the Perugina Baci factory. If you don’t know these wonderful chocolate treats, you should! The tour was fascinating since most candies are produced with minimal human interaction. Most of the processes are automated, including machines, which can tie bows on candies. Amazing! The tour was also delicious since candies were in dishes everywhere. We sure ate our share and then bought quite a few too! That evening we enjoyed an outdoor group dinner at the villa. Ken & Mary coordinated having chefs and assistants serve a wonderful meal to 24 hungry tourists.
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A view of Perugia |
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One of the city's many piazzas |
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An arched walkway between two buildings |
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Lindy beside an ancient
Roman cistern that provided the city's original water system |
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A beautiful fountain and bell tower |
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Lindy at the Baci factory
standing next to the world's largest Baci candy (Yes, it's real!) |
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Lindy throwing a "baci"
from the Baci chocolate case (Did you know that Joe Dimaggio was once a Vice President of Perugina?) |
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Back at the villa with our two wonderful chefs |
On Tuesday, 28 June, Ed and Lindy headed out solo again to the town of Montalcino. It was one of those beautiful walled cities. We had an outstanding lunch and then returned to the villa late afternoon. Then, Lindy, Ed & Barb went to Sarteano for more shopping. We found a great jewelry store and each of the girls got several neat pieces. After returning to the villa, we had a delicious dinner prepared by guests at the second villa. It too was a real treat!
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Our first
glimpse of Montalcino, an |
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The fortress at Montalcino |
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A beautiful street with lots of color |
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A bell tower in the town |
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Steps leading to the cathedral |
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A narrow street |
On Wednesday, 29 June, we joined a group from the villa and headed to Orvieto. We enjoyed the sites there as well as a leisurely lunch. We returned to the villa mid-afternoon to enjoy time by the pool. That evening, Ed and Lindy headed into Sarteano for a dinner alone. We found a great spot, La Giara, where we enjoyed a delicious meal, excellent wine and some tasty Vin Santo. The perfect way to end a great day.
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Orvieto |
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The main cathedral |
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A broader look at Orviento's main cathedral; the facade is beautiful |
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Inside the cathedral |
On Thursday, 30 June, we went to Montepulciano, a wonderful city we had visited before. We enjoyed visiting several churches in town. We then drove to Pienza with its grand tower and beautiful churches. After returning to the villa and relaxing a bit, we opted to once again dine at La Giara and enjoyed another romantic dinner.
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A view of
Montepulciano, another |
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Gates leading into the town |
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The alter in the Church of St.
Agnes; her body lies in the crypt behind the alter |
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Inside the cathedral in Montepulciano |
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A tower in Montepulciano |
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A typical street in
Montepulciano; note the bell tower in the background |
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The cathedral in Pienza |
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The tower of the municipal building in Pienza |
Friday, 1 July, was our last day of touring in Italy. We drove to Abbadia San Salvatore, located high on the mountains. Again, it was a lovely walled town. We especially enjoyed the mid-13th century Santa Croce Church. Next, we visited the village of San Quirco. It’s best known for the Chiesa di Madonna Vitaleta, a church built on the site of a monastery abandoned in the early 800s. We concluded our Tuscan holiday by having another delicious group dinner served outside our villa. Our accolades go to Ken & Mary Hunt for making this trip a reality!
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A view of
Radicofone, a town |
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A beautiful street in Abbadia San Salvatore |
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The 13th century Church of Santa Croce |
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Inside Santa Croce |
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A priest en route to Santa Croce |
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Another beautiful street scene
in Abbadia San Salvatore (including the linens blowing in the breeze) |
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Another street scene in this picturesque village |
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A gate into the lovely village of San Quirco |
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A view of the Chiesa di
Madonna Vitelata, built on the site of a former monastery |
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What a beautiful street scene
in San Quirco |
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A view of one of the village
gates looking through an archway |
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The Collegiate Church, all built of stone |
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A final view of a typical
street in San Quirco |