Dove Sono? (Where Are They?)

"Of all the regions of Italy, Umbria is the most subtle, the most tranquil and the most mysterious."

H.V. Morton

Oops - guess if you've returned to A Winter In Italy you're curious about our exact location in Italy. The region is Umbria (known as the Green Heart of Italy) which is just east of Tuscany. We're living in a hilltown called Spoleto whose origins go back 2500 years.

Through the next few months I'll share a little of Spoleto's history - but not the dry stuff. The good stuff like what the Perugians did just up the street from us with huge cauldrons of boiling oil, or when Hannibal came to town and couldn't find the welcome mat (not Anthony Hopkin's Hannibal, who might have attracted your grisly curiosity with his doings up in Florence, but the older Hannibal who came through the Alps with the elephants.)


But back to present day Spoleto where a world famous music and arts festival is held every summer. We missed it. In the meantime Jim is enjoying driving the Peugeot through the tiny streets and the nearby mountain roads as if he's lived here forever.



I am in the right seat learning just how long it takes to get the blood back in my white knuckles.


Thought you'd like to meet my new best friend.



His name is Willie and he's in charge of his own news stand just up the street. We kissed the first time we met. I didn't get the name of the guy behind him.




From Corso Garibaldi and the Terrazza Splendida, until next time.

Buona Sera, Susan