Leaving Italy

On our last day we drove from Casole d'Elsa down the to the Mediterranean coast, and south all the way to Rome.  Our rental was a Fiat 500L - like a swollen Fiat Bambina.  I had pictured myself in something flasher - like Kevin and Linda's BMW - but actually it went well.

We detoured slightly off the motorway to visit Talamone for lunch, coming across a busy bay full of kite-surfers and windsurfers on the way.  It was nice and windy.  Talamone is a small town on a headland (that's it in the distance there) with a good view up and down the coast.  After lunch we carried on south to Castello di San Severa, a fortress on the edge of the beach which is now a tourist attraction - but sadly closed on Sundays!

	There were quite a few vaguely mystified looking people wandering about, no doubt also wondering why the fort would be closed.  It was obviously too quiet for this tourist shopkeeper, who was deeply asleep at his post:
	Here we found the beach full of sun-bathing Italians - probably Romans, given how near we were to Rome.  Very few were braving the chilly water although it was quite hot in the sun.  Sue satisfied a long-held desire to dip her toe in the Med.

We flew out of Rome at 10 pm for Dubai, then on via Sydney, landing in Wellington about 30 hours later.  It was wet, cold and gloomy.

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A Day in Florence

Florence was a one-hour drive from our base in the country.  We had a beautiful day and there is plenty to see by just walking the streets.

From Piazzale Michelangelo

Man with girl with pearl earring

Kevin and "Porcinella"

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Shops

A few colourful shots from the shops of San Gimignano, and elsewhere.

Rome

Assisi

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Casole d'Elsa

Casole d'Elsa is the name of the location of our second house in the country or "Agriturismo".  The house was right beside the small hilltop town of Casole d'Elsa, with a view out across the countryside to the north to San Gimignano, 20 kilometres away.  It is a beautiful location, complete with a little vineyard and a pool.  For some reason we never got around to trying out the pool... spent every day travelling the surrounding countryside and visiting towns and cities.

We had the top floor, in the background.

Aaaaaaah.

An early morning visit from a hot air balloon!

Shared with numerous green skinks.

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More little cars

The Italians too are into little wee cars (and trucks) which must be great for all the tiny streets found in every old town.  Much easier to park as well - even sideways.
     

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The Adriatic Sea

On Monday we drove to the east coast, a long trip through the mountains.  It was made longer by a diversion over a narrow mountain road because the main road was blocked by slips after Norscia.  We traversed the lower slopes of snow-capped Mount Vettore (2,700 metres or 8,100 feet) before dropping back down to rejoin the main road in the valley.

At Grottammare on the Adriatic coast it was sunny and warm, but we found many places closed (too early in the season).  We lunched beside the sands, then visited the old town on the hill above.

We returned home via a long loop through Civitanova Marche and then Foligno.

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Trevi

Trevi is a small hill town just north of Spoleto, set amongst hillsides covered in olive groves.  Our trusty satnav system delivered us onto a dirt track on the way here, so we resorted to old fashioned techniques like using our eyes instead, and got there in the end.  It was very quiet there today, but there was an interesting museum, and the duomo on top of the hill was worth the visit.

In the duomo

Olive-crushing donkey

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The Horses of Spoleto

On Sunday in Spoleto we happened upon a ceremony involving about a hundred horses gathered in Piazza G. Garibaldi, listening to speeches from dignitaries and a priest.  Of course we had no idea what was being said, but it was interesting to watch!  Afterwards there were impassioned shouts and hats waved in the air, and then they all set off in a parade out of the square and up into the town.

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Cascata delle Mamore

On Saturday we set out to explore the region over the mountains to the east of Spoleto, starting with the Cascata delle Mamore ("Mamore Falls") just out of Terni.  The falls descend 165 metres in three steps, making them the highest in Europe.  The most impressive aspect to me personally is that they are man-made, initially formed by the Romans about 2,200 years ago!  The initial justification was to drain the swampy, malarial plains above, but today they are a tourist attraction, turned on and off each day so the water can also be used for hydroelectric power generation.

The walking tracks (ticket required) take you close to the raging torrents, and the air is full of wet mist raised by the falls.  Photos cannot really convey the impression of something like this, but here goes anyway...

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A Villa in Umbria

Umbria is the more mountainous neighbour of the more widely known Tuscany, and our house there was at the end of a small road up a hill, a few kilometres from town (Spoleto).  There was a small cluster of houses nearby, forming the hamlet of Rubbiano.

Eremo del Sole

The house looked magnificent, although it did turn out to have a few "Italian" problems (plumbing, heating,..), possibly exacerbated by the fact that we were the first visitors of the season.  The swimming pool was unfilled, awaiting warmer weather.  Internet and phone connections were also elusive.  It was spacious and comfortable, however, with a long view out over the valley north of Spoleto.

The resident cat, "Gnappa".

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