Watching the fun outside the Orvieto Duomo.
A rather tedious early start today at 7.30, so that we could pack our bags ready to depart our lovely Torre – meagre breakfast, taken standing up, of bread and cheese, then cleaning and washing, and returning everything to the right room. Lara, Peter and family were the first to set off as they had an early afternoon flight.
The housekeeper arrived to check things over and return our deposits. Some confusion and bad feeling ensued as, having read the meter, she insisted we’d used some all-earth’s-resources-consuming amount of electricity and she’d have to keep our deposits. She even admitted that such a figure couldn’t be right, but having phoned the owner, she was still insistent. That was until clever Anna took a look at the meter and realised the housekeeper hadn’t noticed the rather teeny-tiny decimal point in the middle of the number ….
Dave, Anna and I then said our goodbyes to the Daley family and we set off to have a little meander around Paciano – then on to Panicale again to get in to see the Perugino St Sebastian and a Madonna from the workshop of Raphael in the church there.
Then we set off for our final destination in Italy, Orvieto. En route, stopped at Todi for lunch – another hilltop town, so a bit of a hike up to the top from where we parked. Ate at a very pleasant restaurant with gardens with jasmine-covered trellises and fantastic views over the countryside. Had battered pumpkin flowers and a bean and tuna salad.
Then back on the road, arriving at the Hotel Duomo in Orvieto – very close as the name suggests to the Duomo itself which we set off to take a look at after we’d checked in. Fabulous façade with black and white stripes – and the front covered in coloured mosaic illustrations, arches and sculptures. We were able to get inside, but turned out there was a huge, special festival on all weekend, Corpus Domini, which meant the chapel with the Signorelli frescoes we’d have loved to see was shut. However there was lots else to see, as there was a special service and an enormous costumed procession with musicians – drummers, bagpipes and all manner of odd dressed-up characters.
Had a look round the very crowded streets, lots of pretty ceramic shops etc. Dinner proved a bit problematic initially as everything we tried was either full or closed until we chanced upon the Etruscan Trattoria – very nice, lots of locals and squealing children – tomato salad, tagliatelle with asparagus and a very nice lemon and almond cake.
The square outside the Duomo was a riot as we returned to our hotels, lots of festival competitions going on and all the old ladies sitting lined up against the walls watching the fun.
Todi scooter
http://365project.org/boxplayer/extras/2012-06-09
9 June 2012
Orvieto, Italy
