Experience Italy in a way you never dreamed possible!
FESTAtours and SAGRAtours
These tours underscore my overall objective: to acquaint visitors with Umbria's "hidden secrets" while offering direct contact with the people, through full participation in beloved local festivals. What a way to truly enter into local life and living folklore!
FESTAtours
SAGRAtours
Comments
FESTAtours
Each FESTAtour includes:
* guided tour of that town, incorporating information and lore about
the festa,
* a special festa lunch in local restaurant (sometimes even
in a private home!),
* attending the festa (...and possible other additions).
Advanced booking is required - places strictly limited, some
tours to 12 persons, others to 14-16 persons. If group surpasses
10 persons, van transportation from Assisi area will be included.
Minimum number: 6.
When?
Join us for festivals in (click on month desired):
April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December
FESTAtours
2010 Calendar
September
NEW! Bevagna/Montefalco FESTAtour: HIDDEN SECRETS, FOOD AND WINES
19 September 2010
Join us at the end of September on a NEW FESTAtour to the "undiscovered" hilltown gems, Bevagna and Montefalco, where we'll take in the wine festival celebrating the great Sagrantino wines.
Our morning Bevagna walk takes us to Roman mosaics and an exquisite gem of a 19th c. theater and includes stops at the local tailor's and at a family-run butcher shop (here, Italy's top chef chooses not just all his meats but also the prosciutto and pecorino cheeses for his world-famous restaurant in western Umbria). We'll taste a couple of their specialties - and then move on to try those of the local pasticceria (bakery), owned by a friend's family. We'll savor simple but delicious sweets, including those carried in saddlebags by the medieval pilgrims, the chewy cavallucci (from "cavallo" meaning "horse").
All that is unique about Bevagna is best synthesized in our special last stop: a visit to a merchant's home of the Middle Ages. (Return to the 13th century. You are there. Thanks to the efforts and passione of a newly-formed Bevignate cultural association, Compagnia delle Arti). Nearby, we'll enjoy a superb lunch in a stunning ambience: Bevagna's top restaurant is in the remains of the 1st-century AD Roman amphitheater!
From butcher to baker to her monuments, Bevagna offers "full immersion" into Roman and medieval history and contact with the local people. The medieval hilltown of Montefalco, just up the hill from Bevagna, celebrates the presentation of its famous Sagrantino wine (one of the five top red wines in all of Italy) during the Settimana Enologica ("Wine Week") at the end of September. We will join the local Montefalchesi and Italians from all over gathering in Montefalco to taste the new Sagrantinos which will be presented to the world at the end of September. Sagrantino cannot be released until it has been aged a minimum of 29 months and its "arrival" is always eagerly awaited by the growers and indeed all wine appassionati (the grape can only be cultivated in one very limited area in the world: the Bevagna/Montefalco territory).
Wine and food-tastings take place in the 14th-century cloister of the Agostinian monastery flanking the Gothic Agostinian church. Nearby is the 13th-century Franciscan church, stunningly decorated with 13th-to-17th century frescoes which have turned the church into a fine art museum. A stop there will end our day in the midst of magnificence.
NEW! - ROMAN and MEDIEVAL TREASURES...and on to FIRST COURSES!
September 24, 2010
FESTAtour starts in the morning in Bevagna with a fascinating tour of hidden Roman treasures, medieval secrets, and a jewel box of a frescoed 19th-century tiny theater. As we explore Bevagna, we'll stop to meet "the locals" at work: the village tailor, the butcher, and the baker. We'll enter a 14th-century house and step into the Middle Ages: the interior is a precise re-creation - in minute detail - of a medieval merchant's home.
From Bevagna, we'll head to nearby Foligno for the superb food festival I PRIMI D'ITALIA which draws Italians from all over (yet few tourists: this is a well-kept secret!). Like Bevagna, Foligno, too, was a Roman town, then medieval but little remains of the past due to the heavy bombing by the Allies in World War II (the railroad depots were here). The very core of the centro storico miraculously conserves some medieval ambiences - which are opened to the public and come alive just a few times a year: I Primi d'Italia festival is one of those special moments.
Taverne (medieval inns) in the backstreets of Foligno fill with Italian food appassionati, eager to taste unusual recipes which highlight the best-loved of Italy's primi piatti "first courses"): pasta, gnocchi, soups, risotto and polenta. There are even gluten-free pastas. A myriad of events embellish the three days of the festival: cooking classes for adults and children, banquets enhanced with musical entertainment by top musicians, conferences and workshops on every imaginable subject even vaguely related to i primi.
(Please do read the article on this site about the Primi d'Italia festival)
We'll stop in the huge food tents just off Foligno's main square to sample tastes of the finest foods of Italy: from special olive varieties of Sicily to sheep's milk cheeses of Sardinia to superb olive oils of Umbria to fine chocolates from Piedmont. We'll then join the Italians, going from taverna-to-taverna, enjoying plates of various primi - first course dishes - created by famous chefs and lesser-known (but still talented) chefs: the students from the Umbrian catering schools.
Join us for an unforgettable day of Roman and medieval discoveries, topped off with extraordinary pleasures of the palate!
(See comments below.)
October
Two-day Festatour:
October 4th, 2010 -
Feast of St. Francis in Assisi (October 4) and
Join us as we celebrate the San Francesco following in his footsteps in a 2-day FESTAtour which delightfully combines the "sacred and profane"...!
October 4th, Feast of St. Francis in Assisi(full-day tour)
St. Francis is the Patron Saint of Italy and most beloved of all saints for the Italians and his feast is celebrated with enthusiasm by people from all over Italy.
Our October 4th FESTAtour will include:
• participation in the morning procession directed to the Tomb of St. Francis in the Basilica di S. Francesco,
•guided visit of Assisi with particular attention to sites associated with St. Francis
• encounters with artisans and other "locals" throughout the day
• special festa lunch either at our home in the Assisi countryside or in a private historic home in Assisi
• afternoon visit to the Hermitage, 15th-century monastery set in the woods on the slopes of Mt. Subasio which backdrops Assisi. Built under the direction of St. Bernard of Siena over the site of the caves where St. Francis and his friends withdrew for prayer and meditation in the 13th century, the Hermitage is a most spiritual site, no matter what your religious inclinations! With luck, we will have a private encounter with a Franciscan INSIDE the monastery.
October 5th, 2010, NEW FESTAtour! Bevagna/Spello
St. Francis' feast day is on the 4th but celebrations continue on the 5th. Join us in this new FESTAtour!
Our festive day starts in Bevagna where our walk through this medieval gem will take us to Roman mosaics and an exquisite tiny 19th c. theater as well as other "hidden" treasures. We'll stop at a family-run butcher shop (here, Italy's top chef chooses not just all his meats but also the prosciutto and percorino cheeses for his world-famous restaurant in western Umbria) where we'll taste a couple of their specialties - and then move on to try those of the local pasticceria (bakery) owned by a friend's family. Simple but delicious sweets, including those carried in saddlebags by the medieval pilgrims, the chewy cavallucci
(from cavallo = "horse").
The local tailor will be waiting to greet us and tell us his stories of a Bevagna of the past. Afterwards, we'll step into the remains of the 1st AD Roman amphitheater where artisan Francesco will fascinate us with his demonstration of how rag paper was made in the Middle Ages.
Bevagna - from butcher to baker to her monuments - offers "full immersion" into medieval history. All that is unique about Bevagna is best synthesized in our special last stop: a visit to a merchant's home of the Middle Ages. (Return to the 13th century. You are there. Thanks to the efforts and passione of a newly-formed Bevignate cultural association, Compagnia delle Arti.)
After our Bevagna tour, we'll head over to nearby Spello, a gem of the "undiscovered" medieval hilltowns of Umbria, for an extraordinary "banquet" lunch in one of the top 18 wine cellars in Italy. We will comparatively taste an astounding selection of some of Italy's best wines (all from small "boutique" vineyards and of limited production), top olive oils and an endless array of gourmet foods (even non-wine drinkers will be enthused!).
If we are lucky, elderly Neapolitan chansonnier, Salvatore, will be able to join us with his guitar, enhancing our "Spello experience" with his wonderful Neapolitan songs. After lunch, we'll stroll Spello, che bello! Spello is constructed in the local pink limestone quarried on Mt. Subasio, lending it a unique rosy hue, particularly at sunset. Our walk will take in vestiges of Spello's Roman origins and one of the most splendid Renaissance fresco cycles in Umbria. We'll end our unforgettable day with a visit to an inspiring local Franciscan friar/craftsman.
TREVI "Black" Celery FESTAtour - October 18, 2010
Every year, medieval Trevi's Sagra del Sedano e della Salsiccia, celebrating the area's "black" celery and sausages, animates Trevi's main piazza at the end of October.
Join us for the TREVI "Black" Celery FESTAtour as we share a bellissimo local tradition with "the locals". We'll start our day in Spello, built in the local pink limestone and a feast for the eye: cobblestone passageways open into intimate closed piazzettas, and lead to Roman arches, Romanesque churches, a wooden loggia, and a Renaissance masterpiece.
Our wanderings will end with a special visit to a most unique local friar/craftsman, who'll also show us a 13th c. cloister and refectory, not open to the public. Surprises in store!
After our Spello visit, we'll head on to Trevi. Of pre-Roman
origin, the medieval stone houses of Trevi seem to climb up the conical-shaped
hill covered with olive trees backdropping the town. We'll stop
into to see the church dedicated to Trevi's patron saint, Sant'Emiliano, as well
as the ubiquitous San Francesco Church (what Umbrian hilltown does NOT
have a church dedicated to San Francesco?!).The 13th-century church,
now a museum, houses some wonders.
We'll be in the main square in time for the roasting of
the typical local
sausages and then we'll stroll the booths surrounding the square,
where the
typical foods of Umbria can be savored. (Those who wish
can munch hot
sausage sandwiches as we walk!) Bunches of the famous "black
celery" of
Trevi are the protagonists of this food festival and the piles
of celery
bunches sell quickly. We'll stop to congratulate the farmers
who'll win the
prizes this year for "celery excellence".
Afterwards,
on to one of the taverne (the stone-vaulted
medieval ambiences
of Trevi) for a festa dinner cooked by local volunteers
and starring celery
Parmesan and countless other superb local specialties. "Our" taverna wins
the festival culinary competitions almost every year. (...and you'll
soon know why!).
See October: "Black" Celery
Celebrations in Trevi for more on Trevi's "black" celery
and sausage festivities and the festival taverne.
NEW FESTAtour!White
Truffles in Gubbio - October 31st
Join us on October 31st for the White Truffle Fair in Gubbio, one of Umbria's most stunning medieval hilltowns.
We'll leave the Assisi area in the morning, taking an "off-the-beaten-track" route to Gubbio with a stop to see a ruined 12th-century castello in the countryside.
Our route to Gubbio will take us over one of the most breath-taking stretches of landscape in Umbria. Upon arrival there, first stop will be at the Mausoleum of the 40 Martyrs to pay homage to the forty civilians executed by the Germans in 1944. On this site, learn about an important episode of the town's contemporary history.
We'll pass the Roman theater of the first century AD and enter the medieval walls of the town. The medieval architecture of Gubbio is a stunning backdrop to the annual White Truffle Fair held annually at the end of October/beginning of November. Join us as we explore medieval wonders, meet local artisans (of wrought iron, textiles, wood, stucco and more) and discover the endless array of gastronomical delicacies of Umbria - with the prized white truffle (tuber magnatum pico) topping the list!
Our walk through Gubbio's enchanting medieval backstreets will lead us up to
the majestic city hall, Palazzo dei Consoli which towers over the city, underscoring Gubbio's dominance in the Middle Ages. We'll meet young talented young local ceramicists, acclaimed for their work in maiolica as well as in bucchero (a black ceramic, once "poor man's bronze" for the Etruscans). Lunch will be in the one of Umbria's top restaurants where black truffles star - and with some luck, a even a bit of white truffles!
November
"Umbria's Diamonds" Truffle
and Olive Oil Tour - late November, 2010
This new afternoon/evening tour will entice those
whose palates wish to savor art and history as well as Umbria's
two gastronomical "diamonds": olive oil and truffles.
Our tour starts in enchanting Spello, "città dell'olio",
participating with the "locals" as they launch into their
harvest-concluding celebration of the new olive oil.
We will tour the medieval and Roman wonders of Spello, concluding
with a tasting of prize-winning olive oils, top wines, black and
white truffle patés and other Umbrian specialties in a medieval
wine cellar.
Afterwards, we will head up to a small mountain town near Foligno
for their 25th annual truffle "festa" - where we
will enjoy a dinner featuring (in every dish!)... truffles!
Price? 165 € per person, including guided tour and all tastings,
truffle dinner. Number of participants: minimum of 6, maximum of
14. Tour is self-drive, though van transportation provided if minimum
of 10 persons.
See articles Olive
Oil and Truffles - Umbria's Diamonds and Rino
Stalks the Truffles.
December
"Vigil" FESTAtour in Assisi, December 7th 2010
This December 7th FESTAtour links us to the Assisians as they celebrate the vigil of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th). Our day starts with a morning tour of Spello (please see description of this tour), followed by a memorable lunch (details on request!) and then on to Assisi in the afternoon. Our tour of Assisi's artistic treasures will conclude about 5:00 pm when we will head up to La Rocca Maggiore (the massive 14th c Papal fortress dominating Assisi) to join the Assisians around the huge bonfire lit there at dark on December 7th. According to tradition, the bonfire lights the way for the angels who are flying in Mary's home from Nazareth! (During the night of December 7th, La Madonna will stop at each Assisi home, leaving a simple gift for the children). We all gather here around the falo, enjoying the sausages (our Umbrian ones are the best!) roasted on the bonfire and hot mulled wine. Join us!
January
The Feast of St. Anthony Abbot (Assisi)
- January 17, 2011
See Insights
article.
Festa di San Costanzo (Feast of St.
Costanzo - Perugia) - January 29, 2011
See Insights
article.
April
Good Friday in Assisi - April 22, 2011
Easter is a very special time here in Umbria and the Processione del Cristo Morto on Good Friday night is a stupendous event both in Assisi and Gubbio. On Good Friday, I will offer a special tour (including insight into pagan/Christian Easter traditions in Umbria) here in Assisi which concludes with the hauntingly beautiful Processione del Cristo Morto at night through the torchlit medieval backstreets.
Our tour will start at 10 a.m. and will include:
• guided walk through all the artistic wonders of Assisi, including the astounding Basilica di San Francesco, housing the most magnificent - and most extensive fresco cycle in the entire world - of late Gothic and early Renaissance frescoes (late 13th century and early 14th century). I will also talk on site about one of the most challenging art restoration projects ever undertaken: the re-piecing of the vault frescoes following the 1997 earthquake - as we stand directly under the restored frescoes. (This could be the most emotional moment of your stay in Italy!)
• encounters with artisans and other "locals" and stops to see "hidden wonders" as we stroll Assisi
• a "banquet" lunch of Umbrian delicacies enhanced by tastings of top Italian wines and prize-winning olive oils in nearby Spello, another medieval hilltown jewel ( - and if my favorite elderly Neapolitan guitarist is in form, our banquet will be enhanced with his wonderful music)
• a Spello walk, including Roman and Renaissance wonders, and a meeting with an extraordinary friar/artisan
•
return to Assisi in the late afternoon for a pause - until the early evening Procession, a hauntingly beautiful and most unforgetttable experience.
Note: Processions and special events of age-old traditions take place in many small Umbrian towns on Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, as well. (See comments below.)
La Liberazione in Gubbio - April 25, 2011... New!
We will join the "locals" for this national holiday, celebrating the "Liberazione", that is the entrance of the Partisans into Milano, April 25, 1945. In Gubbio on this day, the 4-day "Mostra dei Prodotti Tipici" concludes. This street fair features numeous stands (circling one of the main piazzas) which offer countless "prodotti tipici" or gastronomical specialties unique to the region of Umbria. We'll tour the open market before touring Gubbio, medieval gem "where time stopped in the Middle Ages".
Gubbio
is less than an hour by car from Assisi and our route will take
us "off the beaten track" and through a stretch of the most stunning
landscapes of Umbria... so that we can stop enroute to explore an
abandoned 12th c. feudal castle ...
Dramatically perched on a hill overlooking the ruins of its Roman
theater, here in Gubbio time seems to have quite literally stopped
in the Middle Ages. Gubbio's "detachment" from today's world is
also a reality: the town is not on a railway line - here, one feels
in a world apart. Our walk through the labyrinthine medieval backstreets
will take us to the imposing 14th c. Palazzo dei Consoli, said to
rival Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in its beauty (I think it surpasses
it).
Along the way, a stop to taste
local delicacies - wild boar salami, pecorino (sheep's milk)
and truffle cheeses, local liqueurs, truffle paté - and then
a stop to observe two fine young artisans at work. Acclaimed as
two of the most-gifted ceramicists in Italy, their gold-incised
black bucchero (Etruscan technique) astounds. Lunch? Only
problem: too many choices! (I would be happy to suggest my favorite
spot...) After lunch, a ride up the funicular to the top of Mt.
Ingino and the monastery where St. Ubaldo, patron saint of Gubbio,
is buried. We'll head home via another road ...more Umbrian landscapes
to delight the eye!
May
Bevagna's Art of the Table - May 1st New!
Join us - and the Italians! - as we savor culinary specialties of Umbria in the medieval backdrop of Bevagna. We' ll join in the Arte in Tavola ("Art of the Table") festival which transforms Roman/medieval Bevagna into a showcase of foods and wines typical of Umbria, enticing those who love art and history, foods and wines. Our tour will take in the mosaic splendor of the Roman baths, a stunning tiny frescoed theater, and a step into the very early 14th-century as we visit the perfectly re-created medieval merchant's home. In a medieval cloister, we'll join the Italians sampling the foods for which Umbria is famous: top olive oils, Sagrantino wine, black truffle, sheep's milk cheese, wild board salami, chestnut honey..and more.This festival gives one the full sense of Italian passione, best term imaginable to describe the Italians. We will share in their passione for the artistic wonders of Bevagna and their passione for culinary delights.
Calendimaggio, Gran finale in Assisi
- May 7, 2011
May 7, 2011 - Calendimaggio, Gran Finale in Assisi
May 6, 2011 - Pre-Calendimaggio Gran Finale tour - Bevagna New!
May 5, 2011 - Pre-Calendimaggio Gran Finale tour - Perugia New!
Calendimaggio, Gran Finale in Assisi - May 7, 2011
Every year, on the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday in May, Assisi celebrates the re-birth of spring with a stupendous medieval festa,Calendimaggio, in which the whole town participates in a magnificent re-evocation of medieval life (see article). For three days, "Upper Assisi" challenges "Lower Assisi" in medieval games, morality plays, medieval songfests and extraordinary pageantry. Culimination of the festivities takes place on the last day of the festival, Saturday. Our Calendimaggio. Gran Finale tour includes a morning tour of Assisi (see description of this tour on Assisi page), buonissimo banquet lunch of typical Umbrian specialties, followed by the astounding afternoon gran finale (almost!) of Calendimaggio in the main square (we will have tickets in the best sector). The splendid afternoon pageantry concludes at about 6 30 pm. The exhausted "locals" gather in the medieval ambiences of the town, attempting to predict the which of the two "Parts" will be judged winner and we'll join in the revelry. The evening medieval song contests and night-time pageantry in torchlit wonder wrap up the most stunning medieval festival in Italy. As both "Parts" await the final verdict, we'll be exulting with the locals! (See comments below.)
Note: Attendance at the nighttime events which conclude about 11, 30 pm can certainly be optional.
Pre-Calendimaggio Gran Finale tour - Bevagna, May 6th, 2011
Our morning walk in Bevagna takes in medieval wonders as well as Roman ruins intertwined with visits to the local tailor, butcher, baker and artisans. We'll unearth many "hidden secrets" of this "off-the-beaten path" Umbrian town and enjoy a banquet lunch in an astounding ambience. The medieval flavor of Bevagna's many gems will be the perfect preface to the afternoon medieval magnificence of the Calendimaggio in Assisi. After our lunch in Bevagna, we'll head to Assisi for the afternoon Calendimaggio pageantry.
Pre-Calendimaggio Gran Finale tour - Perugia, May 5th, 2011
In the morning, our Perugia tour will include the 16th century Papal fortress, frescoed Renaissance guildhalls, 13th century grand fountain, - truly a sculptural wonder - and, of course, a bit of chocolate-tasting. We'll enjoy a most special lunch in Perugia or in the countryside before returning to Assisi for the spectacular afternoonCalendimaggio events.
Note: Possible to book all three tours or simply one or two tours. Reduced tour rates for those booking all three tours.
These tours will run at usual FESTAtour rate + cost of Calendimaggio ticket. Kindly contact me for all information on ticket purchase options.
Corsa dei Ceri in Gubbio
- May 15, 2011
Words cannot describe the frenzied excitement that breaks out in Gubbio as the Ceri ( three colossal wooden structures - each one surmounted by the statue of a saint) are raced straight up the mountain by teams of ceraioli. See the race, feel the frenzy of the Eugubines, and you'll know why they're called i matti dell'Italia ("madmen of Italy")! Do check out the excellent article in the National Geographic (January 2005) on this wondrous pagan/Christian festival: www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine
To better understand the enthusiasm I have for this festival - and you will have after you join me in Gubbio! - please see comments below.
This special tour includes:
* guided visit of Gubbio upon arrival (and continued after lunch) with pause at 11:30 am - to be in the right place at the right time! - for the start of the incredible race. (Throughout our day, interaction with "the locals" will offer a firsthand experience of their passione for this festival)
* buonissima Umbrian festa lunch of typical local specialties
* afternoon continuation of our Gubbio tour, in the midst of the festivities which continue til nightfall
* ample insights into the pagan/Christian origins of this extraordinary folkloristic event
* transportation to and from Gubbio - from Assisi - with private van (for minimum of 10. This tour closes out at 14 maximum).
I am counting the days until May 15th. Truly. The Corsa dei Ceri is one of my favorite festivals - not just in Umbria - but in all of Italy. I never miss it!
(For more information on this event go to www.festadeiceri.it
and see"album".)
June
Crossbows in Gubbio FESTAtour (Palio della Balestra) - end of May, 2011
This ancient tradition has been conserved in medieval Gubbio since
the 12th c. and Gubbio's balestrieri are national champions.
Our "Balestra tour" will include:
* guided visit through the picturesque medieval backstreets of Gubbio,
with stops to visit 2 young artisans, acclaimed for their skill
in the creation of maiolica and bucchero (black Etruscan
pottery) masterpieces and at a local gourmet shop to savor Umbrian
delicacies,
* the palio (contest) which is heralded with the blast of
trumpets and banner-waving in front of the magnificent medieval
civic palace of Gubbio, as the famed Gubbio crossbowers prepare
to compete... all participants in medieval dress,
* wine-tasting of Umbria's finest wines,
* lunch of typical Gubbio specialties at a local trattoria.
Ceri Piccoli FESTAtour - June 2, 2011
If you can't be in Umbria for May 15th and the Corsa dei Ceri,join us on June 2nd in Gubbio, cheering on the children as they raise up the Ceri Piccoli and run in delirium throughout the town. If you are born in Gubbio, your dream is to carry one of the three ceri (wooden structures surmounted with saints - put simply.I'll share the full history - and the wondrous folklore - tied to the Ceriduring ourFESTAtours on May 15th and then on June 2nd...). On June 2nd, little girls, too,run til exhaustion withthe Ceri Piccoli , the smaller versions of the structures carried on May 15th (when women can only run as supports to theCeraioliwho buckle under the weight of theseven-hundred-pound Ceri they race around the town and then up the mountain).
Our June 2ndCeri Piccoli FESTAtour, includes all the highlights of the May 15th Corsa dei Ceri FESTAtour. Join us for this NEW FESTAtour (...and please ask about reduced "inaugural" rates!)
Infiorate in Spello -
June 26, 2011
What is this festival about?
Above all, the Infiorate festival embodies the Italian sense of passione.
Every year on the Feast of Corpus Domini, the Spellani welcome the
morning religious procession with intricate flower-petal carpets
(infiorate) covering every winding backstreet and piazza,
the culmination of weeks of work (and all-night work the night before)
by everyone in the town - from children to elderly. A festival which
we never miss - astounding new masterpieces every year: once, the
"Creation of Man" (Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel)... another
time, a copy of an Escher engraving... one year, the famous Renaissance
fresco of the "Annunciation" by Pinturicchio (which is
in a church of Spello)... recreated in flowers!
Please see NYTimes article by Gail Sheehy.
What
will we do on the FESTAtour?
This FESTAtour is most definitely for "morning people",
as our tour starts at 7:00 a.m.!... with breakfast in a private
home... while I explain to you the origins of the festival. Afterwards,
we'll observe the now-sleepy "locals" finishing up their floral masterpieces
in the backstreets and piazzas of the town, stopping to talk with
them about their part in the festival, the significances of their
artwork. Our route will allow us to see most of the floral wonders
before the procession departs from one of the churches, winding
its way over the carpets.
At that time, the yellow-cloaked Confraternity members leading the
procession will walk in two rows around the "carpets",
whereas the bishop - under an elegant canopy and carrying the Host
- will walk across the flowered welcome.
This most special FESTAtour will also include a guided visit
of Spello - with special visit to a friar/artisan who will show
us his artistic contribution to the fest - as well as stops to see
12th c. Romanesque churches housing Renaissance fresco masterpieces.
We will enjoy a most special FESTA lunch in one of Italy's top wine cellars (ranked among the top 18 in the country). Our sommelier will guide us through a "tastings-as-lunch" of top wines and superb olive oils (the best in the world are from the Spello area) enhanced with a delicious (and abundant!) variety of gourmet Umbrian specialties - which turn our tastings into a true "banquet" (please do not plan on dinner that night....). Un'esperienza...!
(See comments below.)
Floral Dinner in Spello - the first week
in June, 2011
(Contact
me for specifics)
Join
us for the annual cena floreale ("floral
dinner") in Spello - a propitious preparation for the flower
petal celebration, Le Infiorate (see FESTAtour below). This event is strictly
for the locals: last June, nearly 100 Spellani, and five of us (the
only warmly-welcomed "outsiders"! The menu included five
different types of "floral" antipastos, e.g., goat cheese
pralines rolled in cornflower and bachelor button petals, followed
by two first courses (my favorite was the rose risotto with woodland
berries and wild strawberries), then two main courses (imagine thinly-sliced
veal drizzled with rose vinegar and covered with arugula and Scotch
broom flowers!). Desserts? Various floral delights!
Dinner this past year was in a stone-vaulted
medieval cellar. All staff was volunteer: three cooks (2 men and
a woman - a railway employee, retired school teacher, a city employee,
all sporting floral chef hats) with young people serving at beautifully-appointed
tables. Linen tablecloths and a sunflower on every plate. Next May's
Floral Dinner FESTAtour will take in this most special event,
offering a delightful TASTE of colorful local life. Before our dinner,
our a tour of Spello (che bello!) will encompass its Roman
and medieval monuments, visits with a local friar/artisan and an
artist, as well as a superb wine-tasting. (See comments
below.)
NEW!! June Sacred Rural Rites
- June 24th, 2011
On June 24th, join me for an "inside" look at rural life of the past, as still lived by so very few. We will visit the farm families who live near us, our dearest friends and those people who taught Pino and me everything about farming - and life- when we moved here in the 1970's. We set out to work the land, with few resources but molto determination.
Today, few farmers still work the land, using the methods used 40 years ago - a rarity. What a privilege, therefore, for us to visit the homes of a couple of our neighbors, catching them in the midst of farm chores, chatting with them about past farm life "quando c'era la miseria" ( loosely - but aptly - translated as "when we were poor"...) - and enjoying a taste of their wine. Our tour will wind up with a buonissimo farm lunch (or dinner - if our tour takes place in the afternoon) in the home of some of our dearest farm neighbors (and still today, someof our best friends).
As this tour will be on the feast day of San Giovanni Battista, a sacred day for rural people, before our meal we will wash in the acqua di San Giovanni and hear the stories of this miraculous water from our farm hosts.
This tour is for those who wish to:
• take in the beauty of the landscape
• interact with local rural people in their own ambience
• learn about past lifestyles from our farm neighbors, told with deep insight and profound wisdom
• participate in an age-old sacred rural tradition
• enjoy a superb meal of la cucina genuina (the best in home-cooking)
"tour experience"!
NEW!! Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna
- June 25th, 2011 
Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna - June 23rd, 2011 Bevagna
Join us at the medieval festival in Bevagna - in medieval dress! (places strictly limited). Share in the townspeople's passione for the Middle Ages.
At the end of June, the townspeople of Bevagna revive ancient trades and re-evoke medieval life in this bellissima festival fair.
The Gaite were the 4 medieval districts of Bevagna and this festival - like many others in Italy - centers around rivalries among the different factions of the medieval city-state.
Our "Gaite tour" will conclude with participation in medieval dress at the medieval banquet! (thanks to the help of a friend from Bevagna - just us and the locals).
Our memorable day will also include:
* an afternoon guided tour of Bevagna, (centered on its extraordinary Roman and medieval art, architecture and folkore), taking in all aspects of the festival and meeting with the local participants (all in medieval dress) who will tell us about their ancient crafts and trades;
*medieval banquet (all the dishes served are traditional medieval fare!) in medieval dress.
June (end of the month) 2011 Spoleto Festival FESTAtour
Join us at the end of June for the inaugural Spoleto Festival FESTAtour.
I am now finalizing the program so please do contact me for details
July
Perugia UmbriaJazz FESTAtour
- July 2011
In July, glorious medieval Perugia erupts with the explosive energy of Umbria Jazz. My UmbriaJazz FESTAtour invites you to discover the medieval and Renaissance wonders of Perugia and revel with the Italians in the music of world-renowned jazz and blues musicians. In the morning, as we explore the massive 16th-century Papal fortress, we'll discover remnants of the 3rd-century B. C. Etruscan wall and Etruscan city gate. As we stroll the town, we'll stop in to see stunning frescoed Renaissance guildhalls and curiosities in the cathedral, pausing for a cappuccino - or some of Perugia's famous chocolate -at Umberto's caf. Umberto made cappuccino for me when I studied in Perugia years ago - and his cappuccino skills remain unchanged (as does he!).
We'll "read" the medieval history of the city on Perugia's majestic
city hall and wondrous 13th-century Gothic fountain before enjoying
a "jazz
luncheon":
Umbrian foods served to a jazz music accompaniment. After lunch,
we'll explore more of the backstreets of Perugia, taking in medieval
wonders and Etruscan surprises, before we join in on the afternoon
jazz events. My tour concludes at about 5 30 or so. The music
continues til early morning: some FESTAtour participants may
wish to book tickets to the evening events, both Jazz Dinner
and the concerts afterwards. With a bit of luck, we might even
be able to catch a concert of Francesco Cafiso!
These special new tours (please see "sagra"
article) are centered around a sagra: a country festival
(which lasts from about 7-10 days) where the villagers cook and
the young of the town serve at table: all volunteers! A visit to
a sagra is your opportunity to join in the local life and festivities
of an Umbrian village. You will enjoy some of the best food in Umbria...
and you may also be the only foreigners present!
Each SAGRAtour includes:
*A guided tour (at about 4:00 pm) of a hilltown gem (Spello,
Bevanga, Montefalco, Assisi, Spoleto or Perugia).
* Afterwards, we will head to the countryside for the best local
sagra in the area, sharing a wonderful dinner of local specialties
and camaraderie with the villagers as we learn about their lifestyles,
the origins of their sagra and what the event means to them.
* Entertainment usually follows the dinner, including ballroom dancing
on an outdoor dance floor set up for the sagra.
SAGRAtours 2011 Calendar
Note:
Other SAGRAtours now being set up - feel free to pick your
date and hilltown destination of choice - and I will combine your
selection with a local sagra in the same area if at all possible
for date you choose.
Assisi - September
Truffle Sagra in Spello/Valtopina -
end of November
Every year in the tiny mountain village of Valtopina, the Sagra
del Tartufo (truffle festival) celebrates the truffle, "black gold"
of Umbria. After an afternoon tour in nearby Spello, we'll head
to Valtopina to join the locals, moving from booth to booth (in
a huge tent set up on the sports field), tasting truffled delights,
mushrooms, superb olive oils and wines, legumes, breads, honeys,
cheeses and typical meat products of Umbria. Afterwards, a dinner
prepared by the locals, in which every course is enhanced by truffles.
Bevagna - May and September
We will tour the Roman and medieval treasures of Bevagna (see description
of Bevagna tour on TOURS page)
from 4-7:00 pm and then will head for a nearby village to join the
locals at their sagra: wonderful dinner and camaraderie with the
villagers as we learn about the lifestyles of the villagers, the
origins of their sagra and what the event means to them.
Price (including guided hilltown tour, any entrance fees during
our tour, "added extras" during tour; dinner at the sagra
- 75 euro per person; tour limited to 12 persons; bus transportation
provided if min. of 10 reached; tours run with minimum of 6 persons).
Perugia - September
Afternoon tour in Perugia which concludes with dinner at a local
SAGRA.
Spello - June 2011
From 4-7 pm, we will tour Spello, taking in Roman ruins, a magnificent
Renaissance fresco, visit to a friar artisan and a medieval
wine cellar for a superb tasting experience (of olive oils,
wines, superb truffle patès, pecorino cheeses, etc).
Then... on to a delightful local sagra for a buonissimo dinner
and camaraderie with the locals.
Comments
Good Friday - Assisi
"Annie
Robichaud is our ideal guide. Not only does she know all the important
details of Umbria's historical and artistic treasures and its most
up-to-date events, but she knows the land (the right backroad for
the most beautiful scenery) and, most importantly, she knows the
people (a stop in Gubbio to ask after someone's grandmother, a visit
to her brother-in-law's
wonderful book-binding studio, LUNCH WITH AN ASSISI FAMILY IN THEIR
HISTORIC HOME and hello's all along the street in Assisi). We
loved every minute with her on our two-day St. Francis FESTAtour."
Jane Ellis and Jack Litewka, Seattle, WA
"I wanted
to thank you again for a spectacular experience in Assisi on Good
Friday 2003. You were our last stop in our 8-day central Italy tour.
We had such a great time but wished we had found your services first.
You were such a wealth of knowledge and just a delight to be with.
We have told all our friends about you and we feel like you are
our little Gem in Italia. I for one plan on visiting again and when
I do, I want you to plan everything for me, that is if you are up
to the task.
Thanks again for the off the beaten path, cultural experience
on Good Friday. Fr Don Aldo warmed my heart and we are still
talking about the Festa Lunch! Va Bene! I have taken the
beautiful gift from you of the journal book that your brother-in-law
sewed and made it my European Diary."
Kristin Meek, Columbus, OH (Spring 2003)
"Being
in Assisi with Anne provided us with such an in-depth experience
of both the history and the contemporary culture of this lively
city. Experiencing Good Friday in Assisi was especially powerful.
The medieval processional through the town at dusk was magical
and Anne's insights and wealth of knowledge added extra meaning
and a deep feeling to the experience."
Beth Wortzel, Madison, WI
"My husband and
I enjoyed a wonderful day with Annie and a few others on the Good
Friday FESTAtour in Assisi this year. One of the highlights
was the lunch in the lovely walled garden of a family home in the
medieval backstreets of Assisi. It was absolutely wonderful - the
company, the food, the atmosphere. We also visited the workshop
of a bookbinder, met the priest who helped hide the Jews in WWII.
We met the people wherever we went. The other highlight of this
Good Friday tour was the reason for the tour itself: the procession
on Good Friday night through the streets of Assisi.
We've been on 2 tours with Annie and a cooking class. This time,
she even helped us choose our lodgings: a charming apartment in
Spello. We are never disappointed, and we can hardly wait until
our next visit. One of her new Sagratours will be our
next venture!"
Cathy Baeshore, Tucson, AZ
Comment on a tour in Bevagna...
Anne’s tour of Bevagna had us ....both into past centuries and into the heart of contemporary Bevagna. We saw the remains of Roman and medieval times, and how today’s artisans keep up, adapt or revive Bevagna’s legacy of arts and crafts. With her many local contacts and knowledge of Umbrian history and art, Anne took us “behind the scenes” to places and people we’d have been unlikely to find on our own -- a museum tucked into the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, a butcher shop that caters to a who’s who of chefs, a chance encounter with a restorer as he worked on the frescoes in a local church, and an authentic medieval lunch. And that’s only a start. Anne has a great nose for “hidden treasures” and, even in the sloshing rain, she took every opportunity for a detour to make our tour memorable.
Joyce Statton, Vancouver, Canada
Calendimaggio - Assisi
As a self-proclaimed student of medieval history, a trip to Assisi to attend the Calendimaggio Festival was at the top of my list. From the beginning, Anne was a fountain of information, not only setting up our tour but helping with trip planning, places to stay, places to eat and links to more information so that we truly understood the special place known as Assisi. The moment we arrived, Anne made sure that we were taken care of with the kind of hospitality that you only find in Italy. The tour of Assisi with Anne was a day that I will never forget. She took us through the streets of Assisi like we were old friends, never rushing, always explaining and always quick to point out the little treasures that would be missed on a larger, more impersonal tour. The tour culminated in the Calendimaggio Festival held in the main square in Assisi where Anne had reserved seats for us and explained everything that was going on....Calendimaggio is an event not to be missed. A festival that has been held for centuries, in a manner unchanged since medieval times, Calendimaggio is a celebration of the special relationships within Assisi as the townspeople welcome the coming of Spring, while allowing us, the outsiders, to observe their magic and wish that we lived in Assisi so that we could also participate. I highly recommend attending the Calendimaggio Festival with Anne as your guide. It is truly an experience of a lifetime."
Terry Schwartz, Sonoita, Arizona
"Assisi’s Calendimaggio is no 'put on for tourists' event, but it’s such a colorful and unusual event that it’s worth seeking out. Assisians revel in the competition and celebration, cheering for their 'parte' as if it were the home soccer team. Being 'on the spot' Anne arranged tickets in advance and, in the stands, soon had us waving and yelling for her 'parte.' Her knowledgeable interpretation of some of the dramatic scenes was an unexpected bonus."
)
"The local insight
and the artisans, shopkeepers that we met along with the personal
insights made this a day to remember. Anne helped us to understand
the history, tradition and local importance of this event. Calendimaggio
is spectacular, but Anne's local color made it even more so."
Peter Roth, Los Altos, CA
"The highlight of our
17-day Italy trip was the Calendimaggio Festival with Anne. I would
highly recommend Assisi and Calendimaggio but do not do it without
Anne. Our day was fabulous. We had a full guided tour of Assisi
and attended the spectacular Calendimaggio afternoon events. Our
day included these extras: while touring we met with a number of
local shop owners and artisans, even got to see a local bookbinder
at work and had lunch in the beautiful garden of a private villa
overlooking the whole town. The garden and home were filled with
antiquities and the owner is a musician who serenaded us on the
piano after lunch - and after a tour of their home! The delicious
lunch was done the Italian way - anitpasto, primi, secondi, contorni,
and dolce. For all it included - best seats at the Calendimaggio
closing event, tour with 'extras', lunch in a private home - the
price of the tour was incredibly reasonable. I only wish we'd been
able to spend more time in Umbria and with Anne!"
Jay Jennings, Richmond, VA
Corsa dei Ceri - Gubbio
"I was lucky enough to be in the area for the unforgetable Festa di Cerie in Gubbio ( northwest of Assisi). It is an all day event with the religious procession in the piazza in the morning, to dancing to the wee hours in the same piazza! At the Corsa dei Ceri, Annie was more than our "guide"; she was our window into the way of life, the rythms ( especially afterwards at the dancing) of the Umbrians. Her personal narrative made it all come alive and somehow, she seems to know everyone, everywhere. But you will see why when you meet her. So, don't go anywhere near Umbria without tagging along with Annie Robichaud as you will have 'missed' Umbria."
Jack O'Connell - Sharon, CT (October, 2009)
Linda Thompson, Seattle, WA (7/2006)
"If at all possible, do not miss this event - especially with Anne!. I am fifty three years old and have traveled to Italy in many modes beginning right after high school and again after college with a backpack and no money. I have taken high end tours as an adult. However, a few years ago I spent three weeks traveling with two women friends by car. We experienced the Corsa dei Ceri with Anne. It was by far the highlight of our trip—and the highlight of any of my previous visits to Italy. You get to see a slice of Italy that few get to see."
Sherry Stilin, Redmond, WA (7/2006)
"Thanks to an “Annie tip”, on the Eve of the Corsa dei Ceri, we joined all the revelers in the streets amidst the banners, the torches, candles, drum rolls, laughter and conversation; ate baccala and drank free flowing wine; and amazed at the sight of 4 men riding the bell in the Campanile - all of this and the actual festa is not until tomorrow!
(The day of the festa.) What a mad, mad, wonderful day we had with Annie and our tour group walking in the streets – architecture, history, human stories all unfold. We pop our heads in someone’s home, we stop for vino santo and biscotti at a local artisan’s shop, and Annie gets us to a great vantage point among the throngs (Permesso!) so we can see the raising of the Ceri. What a sight and experience comparable to New Year’s Eve in Times Square! We catch our breaths, meet up, enjoy a wine tasting at the Relais Ducale and are surprised by one of the local bands that wander in and serenades us. From there we have a great lunch at a top restaurant where we eat, drink, laugh, sing and are again serenaded by one of the local bands and invited to our restaurant by Annie – what an amazing and joyous day!"
Vince and Marie Ingenito, White Plains, NY (11/2005)
"One of
the highlights of our independent self guided tour was the opportunity
to join you and several others on our very intimate, lively trip
to Gubbio on May 15 for the Corsa dei Ceri. Not only did
we have the experience of a lifetime when you led us to the
near front of the huge crowd and explained every aspect of the celebration,
but we felt like we were actually a part of the Gubbio citizenry.
The pre-arranged lunch was beyond our expectations. Then the trip
to the various workshops for a personal meeting with each artisan
enabled us to learn more about life in Umbria. Your knowledge, enthusiasm,
friendliness and caring attitude are very much appreciated!"
Bill and Thea Weedman, Encinitas, CA
"Thank you for the excellent May
15 Gubbio FESTAtour, a highlight of my trip.. I was particularly
pleased to hear about the architectural details of Medieval buildings,
to go along beautiful country roads with intelligent discussion/elaboration,
and to participate in the interactions with the Italians on-the-ground,
so to speak. The Jessup, Pennsylvania, connection was fascinating.
....and the dinner was fantastic, no doubt the best I had during
my time in Italy, so that experience was particularly positive.
It was also pleasant to be interacting with other Italians there
(and the waiter...and the band!) and feel a part of the scene rather
than an observer.
So, a big thanks to you both. Pleasant conversation, great sights,
good information, and that glorious Italian sun/country."
R. G. Walker, Wilsonville, OR (6/2005)
Floral dinner - Spello
"How does Anne find these unique
festivals? (Her knowledge of Umbria is phenomenal!) Anne took
us to a floral dinner in Spello in early June - "please don't
eat the daisies" took on a new meaning! We sampled herbs, roses,
cornflowers, and other delicacies worked into wonderful recipes
whipped up by a master chef. The wine flowed and the evening was
full of good cheer and great expectations for all present. Just
us and the locals (all "Spellani" - we were the only non-Spellani
there!) We toasted the upcoming Festival of Flowers - Spello's biggest
annual event held on Corpus Christi each year. The beauty of the
flower carpets or Infiorate is a sight to behold. Virtually unknown
to the outside world, Anne has managed to introduce Americans to
this event. She really makes it a special occasion. Stay in Umbria
long enough to experience both the dinner and the Sunday of the
Infiorate!"
Laura Papallo, Covington, CT (www.divalaura.com)
Le Infiorate - Spello
"I HIGHLY recommended Anne's work. She is awesome!!! My husband and I shy away from tours because we do not like being herded with a large group of people from place to place, etc. When we heard about Anne's tour of the Flower Festival in Spello my first inclination was not to do it because I thought it was too pricey! My husband said, "Let's give it a try!" It was incredible!!! It was not only worth every cent it was invaluable to the depth of our experience in Italy. Anne's warm personality, depth of knowledge about all aspects of Italian life, including the culture, history, food, art, etc., was priceless. .....Her direct experience of living in Italian and in some very remarkable circumstances give such depth and breadth to one's entire experience. I stayed on in Italy for a meeting after my husband left and had the opportunity to experience some of Anne's cooking in her country home. She was giving a cooking class and invited me to join. It was a real highlight of my trip. The food was delicious, the ambiance so sweet and we had so much fun!!!! Anne has such a generous heart and warm spirit that infuses everything she does!!! I hope that if you have the opportunity to connect with Anne in one of the many ways she makes herself available for tours, cooking experiences, etc., that you will not miss the chance. Anne obviously LOVES Italy and LOVES what she does. I believe this is the secret to the magic that unfolds when you experience this love first hand. "
Kathleen and Bud Schonder, Reno, NV
"I feel so lucky to have happened upon your Spello Infiorate tour and Assisi was amazing! In fact, all the "extras" you incorporated into both tours made those days even more special... and I still say that the meal at your home was one of the best and we did have alot of
fabulous food!"
Hattie Notman, Marion, MA (5/2007)
"Anne Robichaud's
insider's tour of the Spello Infiorate was the highlight of our
two week trip to Italy. As if seeing the beautiful flower carpet's
and the town festivities weren't enough, Anne arranged for a delicious
breakfast hosted in the home of a local woman, introduced us to
Brother Paul who gave us a special blessing and words of wisdom,
detailed the Pinturicchio frescoes some of the most beautiful we
saw in Italy, and as the finale hosted a private wine and olive
oil tasting of the region's finest wines.
We can't wait for our next trip to Italy, one that will definitely
include at least one of Anne's tours!"
Angelique Reed, Atlanta, GA
2-day Festatour - Gubbio,
La Verna, Assisi
"Anne, Roald and I want to thank you
for our amazing days with you on Oct 3rd and 4th. They were the
highlight of our trip. We both think the Saint Francis feast
day tour was a highlight of our lives. We felt transported to
the middle ages and are still in an Assisi haze. How do you do it?
We spent two days recovering...!
We love Assisi more than any place we have visited in Italy. Thank
you again for the most thrilling memory - participating in Saint
Francis' feast day celebration."
Roald and Linda Nell Bendixen, Poulsbo, WA (October 2004)
"Anne, Thank you
for the wonderful time we had on your St. Frances of Assisi Festatour
in early October. It was truly the highlight of our 2-1z2 week trip
to Italy and France. I now completely understand all of the enthusiastic
compliments I've read about you and your tours over the web and
have several to add myself... Absolutely every minute of the tour
was fun, informative, interesting, and unforgettable. The most
wonderful part of the tour for us was lunch with your wonderful
friends - Edoardo, Anna Maria, and Sophia in their home. What a
truly beautiful family and a fabulous home with so much history.
No one believes me when I tell them that part of their home dates
to 300 B.C.!"
Ann McClellan, Seattle, WA
"Our entire
two-week trip to Italy was designed specifically around our attending
the October 4th Feast of St. Francis in Assisi as part of Anne's
special FESTAtour. We found her In-depth tour to be not only
historically educational, insightful, but delightful as well. Her
command of the Italian language (her second language) along with
her knowledge of her beloved city, Assisi, and her relationship
with the townspeople made the tour a most unforgettable and meaningful
one! The celebration of St. Francis, the patron saint of Italy,
began on the morning of October 4th with a heralding of trumpets
and the pealing of church bells. A colorful procession of folkloric
dancers, musicians, mayors, and regional officials, along with a
conclave of Franciscan monks, led the followers of St. Francis through
the ancient cobble-stone streets to the Basilica. As mass was being
held, Anne carefully explained the spiritually meaningful events
of the day before leading us on her personal tour of Assisi. We
found it to be a most delightful and memorable day - wrapped up
with the warmth and generosity only Anne could give!"
Carole and Winston Bumpus, Livermore, CA
We planned our only
available day in Assisi around the annual Feast of St. Francis in
October, which is one of Anne's FESTAtours. Anne escorted
us around and through the mass of Assisi visitors in town for the
celebrations; including maneuvering us in on the tail of the parade
so we could easily move to the Basilica di San Francesco for ceremonies.
(Some parade watchers even thought we were Italian dignitaries
that really belonged in the parade!) We really enjoyed how Anne
got us involved in the local culture by moving us through the medieval
back streets, pointing out features we would never notice by ourselves,
and introducing us to many local artisans and craftsmen. One
of the highlights of this festive day was having a splendid Italian
lunch served by a gracious family within their medieval villa.
We blended into the local scene very well because Ann didn't use
the typical tour guide's "red umbrella "to keep everybody
together. The umbrella wasn't necessary because Anne limits the
size of her tours! This also makes it easy to listen when Anne stops
to share with the group - everybody can hear, not just those close
to her. The Italians call her "Annie, the American".
But we've never seen an American that is so Italian! She's really
"at home" in Italy and eager to share her love of the
country's history, culture and art. We thoroughly enjoyed our
day with Anne.
Bud and Nancy Hedglen, Clayton, CA
"We signed up
for Anne's FESTAtour, Spello/Bevagna Tour and an Italian
cooking lesson for our "young chef" - age 9. Each tour
included added highlights and the FESTAtour included a scrumptious
lunch in the garden of a private home in Assisi. A particularly
touching moment during our FESTAtour occurred while visiting
Don Aldo Brunacci, a 90-yr old priest in Assisi. A Jewish family
accompanying us on the tour brought tears to our eyes as
they expressed their heart-felt thanks and appreciation to Father
Brunacci for his efforts in helping to hide about 250 Jews from
the Nazis in Assisi during WWII. We can honestly say that, with
Anne's assistance, our visit to Assisi/Umbria was enriched immeasurably
beyond what we would have ever experienced on our own."
Ann Corbett, Seattle, WA
"Annie Robichaud
is our ideal guide. Not only does she know all the important details
of Umbria's historical and artistic treasures and its most up-to-date
events, but she knows the land (the right backroad for the most
beautiful scenery) and, most importantly, she knows the people (a
stop in Gubbio to ask after someone's grandmother, a visit to her
brother-in-law's; wonderful book-binding studio, lunch with an
Assisi family in their historic home and hello's all along the
street in Assisi). We loved every minute with her on our two-day
St. Francis Festatour."
Jane Ellis & Jack Litewka, Seattle, WA
ROMAN and MEDIEVAL TREASURES...and on to FIRST COURSES!
"My favorite parts of the festival were the gourmet chocolates, the fried stuffed olives and olive stand...and the breads!"
Maggie Moss, (age 15) Lafayette, LA
"The Primi festival in September is a must if you are in Italy. The chance to sample pasta, gnocchi, risottos and much more from Italy's top kitchens is a true culinary treat."
Michelle Moss, Lafayette, LA
"Annie, I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed the Primi Piatti fest in Foligno. It was just magical!! The food, the stations (over 25 of them!!), the sampling and the entertainment...all of it was just over the top......We had an absolute ball!!"
Sam Moss, Lafayette, LA.
"I thoroughly enjoyed Primi Piatti. My favorite part was the tent offering samples the delicacies from all regions of Italy. I loved the savory peppercorn cheese from Sicily and the exquisite rosemary chocolates from Brescia. The event was a sensory delight!"
Laura Balla, Austin, TX/Assisi, Italy