From Colmar we travelled on to Switzerland (very green, neat and tidy with time for no more than a passing glance at beautiful lakes and distant snowy mountains) then via the Gotthard Tunnel (horrible, claustrophobic and headache-making) into northern Italy.

We had booked into a hotel outside Parma and, as it was late evening, we checked in, had an evening meal, collapsed on the bed and slept.

Next day dawned warm and sunny so we decided to explore Parma, easily finding a multi-storey car park near the historic centre. (more…)

Day Two of our Journey to Italy

Colmar. Why didn’t we know more about this fabulous place? This beautiful city in Alsace, on the French- German border, contains an historic core of half-timbered buildings, some decorated in Renaissance style, Voltaire’s residence, Little Venice with its picturesque canals and the home of Frederic Bartholdi who created the Statue of Liberty at the entrance to New York’s great harbour. (more…)

Day One of our Journey – Folkestone to France

Hooray! At last we’re setting off for sunny Italy after days of wind and rain in grey Britain. Approaching Folkestone the sun broke through and shone from blue skies. The Channel Tunnel was so quick and efficient – we hardly knew we were moving when, suddenly, we were in France and ready to roll. (more…)

Perugia's Historic Centre

Have you ever sat and daydreamed about escaping the daily grind into warm Mediterranean sunshine?    I used to do this a lot and longed to be in sunny places.  But, one day, things began to change.

I had just learnt that one of my colleagues was counting down the days until he and his wife motored down to start a new life in Umbria in central Italy.  Graham described the rolling green hills, the wide valleys, those magical little hill towns, the glories of Assisi and the magnificence of the Apennines.

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Papiano had 20 cm of snow a few days ago!  This is very unusual and part of the cold conditions in Umbria at present.  Aafke and Roberto, the wonderful couple who look after Casa Mimosa and our visitors, took this photograph from their house across the valley to ours.

Snow in Papiano Feb 2012

Ambrosial, award-winning puddings!

We recently took my sister and brother-in-law across the valley to have lunch in L’Antico Forziere, a country-house restaurant just off the E45 south of Deruta.

We had seen its sign several times and kept meaning to go and explore so on a sunny morning we set out to drive the 3 km from the house.  The hotel/restaurant is set in its own grounds, surrounded by conifers and with a pleasant terrace for dining out on summer evenings. (more…)

When you drive to Perugia from Papiano, (about 25 minutes from the house) you come off the E45, and drive up around the hill on which the city stands. The road is lined with tall trees and gives a rural, pastoral feel to the city approaches.  We were told to look out for the Parcheggio di Partigiani, the best car park for the historic centre. (more…)

We first visited Carsulae, the site of a Roman settlement near San Gemini, in June 2002, the year we bought the house.

It was also the year we organised a villa party for 14 friends in nearby San Gemini.  We stayed in a fabulous palazzo, (Santi Terzi, rentable through Tuscany Now  which had once been owned by Antonio Canova, the sculptor who created the famous ‘The Three Graces’. (more…)

A Renaissance city in the heart of Tuscany, Florence’s museums, palaces and churches are home to some of the world’s greatest treasures, making it one of the most popular cities in Italy.  Interesting streets, elegant buildings and shops offer something for everyone. The centre of Florence is quite small so you can easily walk from place to place. (more…)

Twelve miles east of Perugia is the Umbrian Town of Assisi, elevated 1,300 feet above sea level. Best known as the birthplace of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Italy, the town is a haven for pilgrims and tourists who enjoy its intense spirituality and lavish art, Roman ruins, winding medieval streets and sacred shrines. Assisi’s many attractions make a visit very enjoyable. (more…)