We spent today under the Umbrian sun in four lovely
towns. Our first stop was in Orvieto, a
favorite from a previous trip. The
Centro Storico is perched atop a plateau of volcanic tufa rock and its dramatic
setting alone would make it a standout.
But, for us, the real reason to return is to gape, gawp, and stand
slack-jawed in wonder at the most beautiful cathedral façade imaginable. The mosaics, intricate reliefs illustrating
Biblical stories, statues combine into a glorious whole that is impossible to
adequately describe. (That’s where Tom’s
camera work comes in!) One pope is
reported to have said that, at the end of the world, angels would transport the
façade to heaven; he definitely had an eye for the sublime!
We’d also visited Todi before, but returned today to enjoy
its hilltop views, see classic piazza on a quiet Sunday afternoon, and walk
through its narrow streets.
Bevagna is off the usual tourist routes and was new to us,
but a lovely discovery. Quiet streets, a
large and empty-of-tourists piazza, and plenty of medieval ambience.
Spello is one hilltop away from Assisi, but we had never
been there. It is almost too beautiful
to believe, with its steep narrow streets paved with bricks and stones, crossed by
overhead arches, lined with picture-perfect homes and shops, and ending with
long views of the countryside. Flowers
adorned walls, steps, and small courtyards all the way to a panoramic belvedere
overlooking the valley below and Assisi in the distance. If it’s not on your list of places to see,
add it now; it’s already on our reason-to-go-back-to-Italy- again list!
A Sunday to remember for us!
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