Today it was off to Assisi… a historically beautiful city only 20 minutes away from the apartment. Here we wandered around the inner city taking pictures of the architecture and the many beautiful sights. We visited the basilica St. Rufino, where St. Francis of Assisi was baptized, which turned out to be one of the most inspiring churches we have visited, the ornate detail amazing. We then went to lunch at the Trattoria Degli Umbri where we enjoyed the best meal from beginning to end that we have experienced during our visit. The best fresh baked bread to date with vino rosso della casa, salad de Umbria followed by an incredible vegetarian lasagna. For desert we had a strudel with expresso. Then it was off to the basilica St Francisca another truly amazing structure dating to 1208.

 Assisi

 Basilica St Rufino

Nancy contemplating being baptized in St. Francis’ baptismal font.  She decided on a grappa instead. 

 Basilica St Rufino

 Basilica St Rufino

 Basilica St Rufino, not sure who she was but she sure upset someone, look closely at this statue
and you will see multiple swords sticking out of her chest

Basilica St Francisca

 Basilica St Francisca

 Basilica St Francisca

 Basilica St Francisca

Departing Assisi

Today has been a cloudy, dreary, cold day. we did get out and walk around the town and afterwards Nancy cooked a great lunch. We are spending time just lounging around the apartment.

Here are some pictures of the apartment we rented in Spello for 4 days. It's really great being able to cook our own meals, not to mention a whole lot cheaper than having to go out to eat all the time. I'll add some of the outside and our court yard tomorrow as well as some of this little town when it's light.
Caio

 From the kitchen

 From the other end of the kitchen

 The kitchen

The view towards the bathroom

 Bathroom door

 One weird bathroom

weird huh?

The front door from the end of the courtyard

View from the parking area

 Entry into the courtyard

 Nancy at the other end of the courtyard

The following pictures were taken while walking around town and will give you a since of why we have fallen in love with Spello

We watched this cat just sit in the middle of the street as everyone walked around it for about 5 minutes, completely oblivious to them. As we started to take a picture from behind he got up and left.

  

Today we went to Tuscany, to the city of Montepuliciano to be exact, where we gazed out at the famous valleys below. We went wine tasting (see picture of Nancy). We weren't impressed so we bought a 3 liter box of Vino Rossa. The most interesting part of the wine tasting was the self guided tour of the cellar, see pictures below.

 Tuscan Valley 

 Same Valley as above

 The valley view from Montepuliciano

 Nancy pauses on her way down to the cellar

 An old grape press

Nancy Trying to empty a small wine barrel

 The cellar

 The cellar

 Well in the cellar

 Exiting the cellar

One last look

Here are some pictures taken while in Spoleto

 The clock in the square that tells moon phases as well as time

 Nancy with aqueduct behind

 The fort, once a prison, from the other end of the aqueduct

 View of the town from the fort

View of the fort from the back side

Yesterday we left Norcia and rambled through Umbria stopping in Spoleto, the home of the famous opera festival, where we wandered around the old city for 4 hrs admiring the century’s old aqueduct and their cathedral before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant to have spelt soup... uhmm... very good, then on to Spello where we have rented an apartment for the next 4 days. I will post pictures later
Caio

In Italy

Ok, long time no posts so we are getting back at it. We are now in Norcia, Italy after 2 weeks wandering about. More to follow.