Spello, Italy

The medieval town of Spello is located about 10 minutes drive from Assisi. I hesitate to use the words "charming" & "beautiful" or even "quaint" because ... well, isn't that how all these little towns are described? Frankly, I am running out of adjectives and am in need of a good thesaurus. Being a bit tired and delirious after a long weekend, I will just let you see for yourself.

One of the extra fabulous things about Spello is that they seem to be a bit flower obsessed. Especially with their window boxes. Apparently there is some kind of front stoop contest that goes on? This is outside of the big flower festival "Infiorata del Corpus Domini" that they have every June. Gotta love the Italians and their amazing festivals. (A lot more on that to come!)

We had an amazing guide take us around Spello. It's difficult to imagine anyone knowing more about Umbria than Anne Robichaud. She's an American who has lived in Italy since 1973, is like a virtual encyclopedia and she knows everyone. She is the one who set us up with our fabulous driver and new friend Mauro who took us to Greccio and Fonte Columbo. If you ever a need a guide, want to set up cooking classes, banquets, or lectures or need some help in Umbria, she's your gal!

So, here is beautiful flower-filled Spello ...

People from a planet without flowers

would think we must be mad with joy the whole time

to have such things about us.

~Iris Murdoch

A Fairly Honourable Defeat

Oh, and Spello by the way has some of the most incredibly beautiful frescos I have ever seen. In the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, they are by Pinturicchio in the Capella Baglioni. Truly unbelievable. My photos didn't look so great in the dark chapel, so if you are interested you can go to Santa Maria Maggiore's website and see these frescos as well as their other beautiful works of art and more of Spello.

Hope you all had a beautiful weekend!

Next up? The festival of Calendimaggio in Assisi!