Tales from Italy – Page 2 – Paradiso Ceramics Australia | Handmade in Italy

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Tales from Italy

  • Monte Subasio

    by Margaret Anderson
    Monte Subasio in Umbria is popular with hikers and paragliders. The ancient towns of Assisi and Spello are built on its lower slopes. From its summ...

  • Even parking and walking is not for the fainthearted in Italy ...

    by Margaret Anderson
    Italians can squeeze into the tightest parking spaces and are confident whizzing through the narrow streets of their ancient towns, so travelers are wise to walk and park with caution.
    Posted in Italy blog, Tales from Italy, Umbria, Walking in Italy

  • Beware the first of September!

    by Margaret Anderson
    It is September 1st in Umbria and early morning when we wake to a loud BANG! We all tumble downstairs to see what the noise is about. Then we remember: hunting season begins on the first day of September.
    Posted in Boar hunting, Hunting in Umbria

  • Riding high in Gubbio

    by Margaret Anderson

    Near the top of the mountain above Gubbio is the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo which houses the body of the 12th-century Bishop Saint Ubaldo. To get to the church, you can either hike 40 minutes up a nearly-vertical road, or you can be more adventurous and take the Funivia. 

    Posted in Bird cage ride in Gubbio, Funivia in Gubbio, Gubbio, Gubbio Umbria, Sant'Ubaldo

  • First impressions ...

    by Margaret Anderson
    “We’re going to Italy. Want to come?” Knowing the old stone house in Paradiso could accommodate six people, Jan loved to invite friends (and even j...
    Posted in First impressions of Umbria, Italy blog, Tales from Italy, Umbria

  • An Umbrian gastronomic feast

    by Margaret Anderson
    Over the years we have visited Umbria we have eaten at many restaurants, but for its typical Umbrian food and unique experience, our favourite is Livia’s Ristorante.
    Posted in Eating in Italy, Piatti Tipici Umbri, Umbrian feast

  • Vendemmia!

    by Margaret Anderson
    Picture this: two Aussies slowly working their way along rows of grape vines in mild autumn sunshine, snipping off heavy bunches of grapes, only pausing for a picnic of crusty bread, cheese and wild boar sausage. Helping our friends with their 'vendemmia' was the highlight of our 2010 Umbrian sojourn.
    Posted in Grape harvest in Italy, Grape picking in Italy, Vendemmia

  • What's so special about Deruta?

    by Margaret Anderson
    Deruta is a small medieval town in Umbria in central Italy where pottery has been made for hundreds of years. The town lives and breathes artistic 'maiolica', and over 200 factories still produce the colourful ceramics today.
    Posted in Deruta, Deruta ceramics, Deruta Italy, Deruta maiolica, Deruta majolica, Deruta pottery, Deruta Umbria

  • Travelling by train in Italy

    by Margaret Anderson
    Travelling by train? Like driving in Italy, also not for the fainthearted!

  • Driving in Italy - not for the faint hearted

    by Margaret Anderson
    It was the first time Jan had driven a left-hand drive car. When she forgot to look right as she exited the airport carpark, it was almost her last.
    Posted in Driving in Italy

  • "Welcome to Rome!"

    by Margaret Anderson
    It's October 2006 and our first trip to Italy together. Thirty hours after our plane left Sydney, we landed at Rome Fuimicino airport and began looking for the car rental desk. Should be easy to find, right? Wrong. Welcome to Italy!