Fa bel tempo oggi.
We had early breakfast and the hotel porters collected the luggage out of every room and the driver put it into the bus. Trust me when I say we do nothing to facilitate any moves to new locations except get ourselves on the bus and go.
We moved away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and began our trek out to the country..... The next region.... Umbria. This brought us into wine and olive country and lush agricultural areas. These is always cheese production but unseen from the perspective of the road.
Our tour guide outdid herself with maps , information and updates. I got a picture of her Italian shoes. She dresses Italian classical stylish. No stilettos or draped in gold chains or average. She is 40 going on 29. She has worked for Tauck for 15 years and operates in true teacher agenda ultra organized mode. At least my observation. She is a visual person so she likes handouts for topics of interest for free time, eating spots, museums and any other aspect she wants to cover. She comes from New Mexico so she is a home town girl. She is cute and gets along well with the Italians who provide Tauck services in all venues. Ok bio update done.
Orvieto is set high on a volcanic hill overlooking vineyards. We visited the Duomo. This is one of Italy's greatest cathedrals. The facade is a blend of sculpture and mosaics splashed with a palette of colors and magnificent bronze doors. The outside walls are made of stone and black basalt. It looks like a zebra church. This comes from the influence of the Spanish Moors. With all the migrations that took place, builders "borrowed " the cultural styles of the time if they liked them.
Inside the church are altars and frescoes by Fra. Angelica. The local guide was excellent in her description of the frescoes and traditions that were depicted in the style of painting and the doctrinal ideas of the church.
Of course the place was HUGE.....it also had a beautiful circular roseart at the top of one of the walls. Beautiful.
Once our tour was done , the church just happened to be in a plaza area and the group had free time to shop, stroll and feel the culture and hear the sounds. Down one of the corridors was a smaller plaza for, the practice area for the medieval festival to take place soon. ( I have lost track of dates).
Then we went as a group to eat at a traditional trattoria near the Plaza del Duomo. I refuse to do calorie accounting because my calculator would break.
We left there and an hour and a half later arrived at Torgiano, a small Tiber Valley village. We are in the phase of experiencing the Italian country life for the next two nights.
We are staying in a 17th century patrician home featuring wooden beams, terra cotta floors and a private winery. The private winery is called Lungarotti . Once we were assigned rooms the wine tasting contest began at 6 and was followed by dinner in the restaurant . The food, the wine and dessert all flows freely. The meal was 10 star. The pictures that follow show a summary of the day.
The dessert, Sue and Howard , is for you. The picture doesn't do it justice but it sure tasted delicious going down.
L'Italia e in pause splendidly.
Bueno notte!
Love the "two fisted" drinking, Char! Also love reliving our own trip through yours!!! I found our stay at Torgiano delightful....the dessert looks as yummy as I remember....Enjoy all - there is more to come!!!
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