This is home base for the month of July. It is a magical little place...one of my very favorites in all of Italy.
Cats of Spoleto
This cat showed up two years ago. Ryan fed her the last week. She's been coming back ever since. We call her "kitty" and "Bella."
In this our third summer with kitty, she comes into the house and rubs against ankles. But make no mistake, she's a stray, coming and going over the roof only at feeding time.
Street scenes from Spoleto
My little apartment follows:
Spello
Spent another wonderful day in this small walled hill town near Spoleto.
Spent another wonderful day in this small walled hill town near Spoleto.
Assisi
The day started with a miscue about when we were to get the bus to the train. I messed up and got us up at 6:20am, which made us miss the first bus. Even the major heat and a cranky traveling companion did not dim my love of this lovely town.
I love the side streets!
Cathedrale di San Rufino
A lifelike statue of St. Francis. He seemed to be looking into my soul. And his feet! Gives whole to meaning to walking in the saint's footsteps.
Santa Chiara.
The gorgeous and slightly out of place Renaissance Chiesa Nuova, built in the location of St. Francis' family home...you know, the one he deserted to devote himself to God.
Firenze
I love the side streets!
Cathedrale di San Rufino
A lifelike statue of St. Francis. He seemed to be looking into my soul. And his feet! Gives whole to meaning to walking in the saint's footsteps.
Santa Chiara.
The gorgeous and slightly out of place Renaissance Chiesa Nuova, built in the location of St. Francis' family home...you know, the one he deserted to devote himself to God.San Damiano (just down the hill from Assisi)
This is the convent where St. Francis first heard the cross speak.
The cross that spoke to St. Francis, now in Chiesa di Santa Chiara.
The long walk down to (and back up from) San Damiano.
The monastery...still functioning as such.
This is the convent where St. Francis first heard the cross speak.
The cross that spoke to St. Francis, now in Chiesa di Santa Chiara.
The long walk down to (and back up from) San Damiano.
The monastery...still functioning as such.Heather, Ryan, Jan, Lee Chin, and I spent one glorious Wednesday in Firenze--describing the joy of this day is difficult.
The day started with a "train caper:" our scheduled train was so late we would have missed our connection to Firenze. So, the group decided to hop a Eurostar without tickets for the 13 minute ride to Foligno. All thought it was a great idea, except for me. I'd have to talk to the conductor if we got busted. After much evasion and contemplating hiding in the HUGE handicapped bathroom, we made it!
After arriving, I took my good friends to my favorite place:La Bussola! We had four magnificent gourmet pizzas, cooked in front of our eyes.
The decor of La Bussola is a wonderful combination of old and mid-century modern.
We all stood in awe of the lovely Duomo.
...and the lovely Chiesa di San Lorenzo.
We returned to Spoleto weighed down with shoes, bags, and other assorted items. The bus has stopped running, so we stopped for dinner and then walked up to the center of town.Siena
Yet again, the Duomo.
It never gets old--there are always new things to notice.
Thanks to Bailey's lens, I finally got a chance to photograph upclose one of the many Popes that line the upper part of the Duomo.
