Umbria

SPELLO'S INFIORATE

Main street in Spello covered in flower petals.

Spello is one of the most enchanting and unspoiled towns in Umbria. It is only a short drive from Assisi (overrun with tourists, in my opinion) and has some shops, restaurants and a magnificent view from the top of the town. On Corpus Domini, the 9th Sunday after Easter, the main street in Spello is adorned with flower petals, making an incredible scene of "flower art". The flower path begins at the arch and continues for nearly a mile. It is something not to be missed. The dates for 2018 begin June 3. For more details, click here.

Food & Drink

ROME HAS TAKEOUT TIRAMISU! WHO KNEW?!

Tiramisu ready go at POMPI in Rome.

Pompi in Rome (styling themselves as the king of tiramisu!) is just off the Piazza di Spagna one block down on Via Della Croce, 82. They not only have very popular carryout tiramisu, they also have wonderful gelato and other confections. Great for a quick energy boost!

 

WHO EVER THOUGHT THE NATIONAL DRINK OF CUBA WOULD BE POPULAR IN ITALY?!

Mojitos have become very popular in Italy, and there are a growing number of hotels that make a great mojito! Among them are:

1.     Londra Palace Hotel in Venice

2.     Borgo Scopeto Relais in Castelnouvo Berardenga, Tuscany

3.     Empire Palace in Rome

4.     Hotel Posta in Como, Lake Como

5.     Lido Palace Hotel in Riva del Garda, Lake Garda

6.     Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast

        7.    Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1 in Florence

ATTENTION CHOCOHOLICS!

Plan ahead for 2016! Perugia hosts the biggest chocolate celebration in Europe for 10 days usually encompassing the last two weekends in October. The 2015 caption for the show was "Eat your Mustache"! There is chocolate everything - chocolate for dogs (!), chocolate kebabs, herbal chocolate and in very form imaginable - lamps, shoes, cell phones/tablets. The festival takes over the town of Perugia but you must make plans very early in order stay in town. Click here for details.

Click here for where to stay.

Chocolate shoes

Chocolate sculpture