Pictures

Here's a few pictures.

1. Notahummer

2. Hamlet of Costa di Trex

3. Springtime.

4. San Stefano set for a wedding.

5. Umbrian countryside.

Ciao.

Ristorante

Here we are dining in Italy.

Just kidding.  Actually, that photo appears on the back of the business card for what is our favorite dining place in Assisi, Pizzeria Otello Ristorante.

Here's what the restaurant looks like on the outside.

And here's what it looks like on the inside.

Lasagna, anyone?  Mmmmmm.

Fog on the Blog

Sunday morning.  A fog envelops Assisi.

Not a soul at Porta Nuova.

A few people are out as the sun begins to break through.

By late morning the tour buses have arrived and the Piazza del Comune is crowded, as people walk the main path between the two cathedrals at opposite ends of town. Close by, streets remain tranquil and uncrowded.

If you are with one tour group, you will not get left behind as long as you wear your orange hat.  Remember, do not remove your orange hat! 

Ciao.

Markets

Here's one of our friendly neighborhood markets.

This is where we shop for fresh bread and produce.  The owners are very helpful, providing us with pane integrale (whole grain bread).  There are no "supermarkets" or other large vendors in Assisi.  Thankfully, there are no places to put them and very few parking places.  The friendliness and neighborliness of small shops, cafes and "minimarkets" offer a real sense of community.  Hmmm, maybe today's urban planners could learn a few things from their 12th Century counterparts.

Eremo delle Carceri

Since the early years of Christianity hermits have gone to an area of caves and grottos on the side of Monte Subasio to pray and contemplate in solitude.  In early times a descriptive word for "prison" was used in the area's place name, suggesting the solitary life of its visitors.  Eventually, it was called the "Eremo delle Carceri" which I think may be translated as "Hermitage of the Prisoners."  Francis and his first followers came here to their individual quiet places on the mountainside.  The hermitage is built into a rocky cliff.   

The Eremo offers beautiful distant views of the Umbrian countryside.

Even more beautiful, beyond my ability to describe, are the paths that weave through the woods of the Eremo.  Today's visitors are expected to remain silent.  However, the music of the uccelli is so uplifting and the oak forest so alive, that one can easily appreciate the joy and spiritual experiences of the hermits of long ago. 

Visitors are wise to come early, as hundreds arrive later in the day to stroll the main paths.

This morning I recorded an uccelli concert.  If I can figure out how to upload it, perhaps it will be part of a future post.

Ciao.

On the Piazza del Comune

Here's a reasonably sized sedan for getting about town.  Fits in the narrow streets.  Probably gets great gas mileage.  Easy to park (although this driver seems to have had difficulty).  Plus a snazzy sunroof.  Such modest cars are commonplace.

Behind the car, on a wall beyond the truck, can be seen the following: 

Not sure what the upper part says, but the lower part is the "measures" used in Assisi, standards for measuring things like wool, wood, bricks, tiles, etc.  It was put there around 1349.  Looking up from the measures one sees a principal landmark of Assisi, the Torre del Popolo (tower of the people), from the Thirteenth Century.  This bell tower is next to Santa Maria delle Minerva, adapted from the original Roman Temple of Minerva.

Campagna

"Campagna" means "countryside."  Here are a few views from beyond the walls of Assisi, the first looking down at a pasture with sheep grazing.

Next, farms and country homes are seen into the distance.

This view includes the side of Monte Subasio and a portion of the city wall.  The tower is called Rocca Minore.

Finally, a glimpse into the Eremo delle Carceri, a very special, peaceful and beautiful place, part way up Monte Subasio.  I'll be writing more about the Eremo in the future.

Ciao.

Pizza

Busy day today.  Just have enough time to share a picture of lunch.  It's called a pizza margherita.  If you think it looks deliziosa or even squisita...

...you're right.  Ciao.

Things That Are White On Top

The top of Monte Subasio had a coat of snow this morning, and it was cool and windy in town.

    

There are more things to write about than morning walks, but today's brought a bit of a surprise.  My solitary stroll down a path (to San Damiano) was suddenly interrupted by a crowd of about 150.  Sheep, that is. Along with one shepherd.

 

Plenty of time for picture taking.  No question about who had the right of way.

As explained earlier, the names of a few California cities have their origins in this neighborhood.  However, Cheri drinking a cappuccino earlier today reminded me of another interesting bit of trivia.  The Italian word "cappuccino" has long meant "cap" or "hood."  Centuries ago a group of Franciscan's called Capuchin's adopted a habit that included a capuccio, or hood.  They also had tonsured (white) heads surrounded by a circle of brown hair.  In the early 1900's, expresso machines were first used to make a new drink that, frankly, looked like a Capuchin.  It was, appropriately, referred to as a cappuccino.  Ciao.

Gates

Visitors generally enter or leave Assisi by one of its gates.  Oh, I suppose if one is an invading barbarian or a would-be conquering monarch, it would be more fashionable, sword drawn, to climb over the walls.  However, for the past few centuries most people seem to gain entry by foot, horse or vehicle, without too much difficulty.  Although, when pedestrians and vehicles are trying to pass through simultaneously, climbing the wall might be safer.   

These four gates, each one a "porta", were built around the 14th Century, meaning before Columbus. 

The porta above has the old cypress tree that I mentioned earlier growing on it.  Below is Porta San Francesco.

Finally, here is Porta Nuova, the "New Gate."  (must be late 14th Century)

Early this morning one of the large wooden doors of Porta Nouva was partially closed, as seen in this picture.  Wouldn't want to get locked out and have to knock to get back in.  Ciao.