Perfection!! - Orvieto and Pienza, Italy
Orvieto and Pienza, Italy
We began our last morning in Rome with a brisk 20-minute, up-hill walk to the rental car pick-up with our luggage. We picked up our mini-van and thanks to Brian's driving and Claibourne's navigation, we made our way out of Rome. We had an unexpected interruption when we were stopped for 30 minutes on the autostrada due to an overturned orange truck. We finally made our way to the small town of Orvieto, on the border of Umbria and Tuscany.
In Orvieto, Brian, Claibourne and Christine toured the underground caves below the city. Pat and Randy visited the Duomo, or cathedral, in town. The kids learned that the caves were once private wine cellars below many of the houses since they maintain the same temperature all year round. With this information, Brian began looking at properties for sale.
The two groups met after their separate adventures for lunch at Le Grotte del Funaro. This was the true highlight of the stop. While the restaurant was a little off the beaten path, it was worth every step it took to get there. The pasta, meat and soup was filling and warmed everyone up on the chilly, wet day. The wild boar and bean soup was a favorite.
After lunch, we made our way back to the autostrada toward Pienza. We made it to the hotel in Pienza by 5:30 (17:30). Our hotel, La Bandita, is a rejuvenated monastery with many 21st century conveniences in the middle of the city. The rooms are huge and the views are breathtaking - a welcome change from the small rooms of Rome. We were welcomed with aperitifs and a friendly welcome.
We had an excellent dinner at a quaint restaurant about 20 meters from our hotel, Trattoria Latte di Luna.
After dinner, Mom, Brian, Claibourne and Christine went for a walk around Pienza to burn off some of the food they ate. They stumbled across a cheese throwing competition that resembles the American game of paper football. Men formed teams and threw blocks of cheese to see who could get the closest to the edge. There was crowd participation in the form of wagering. Apparently, this occurs every year around Christmas.
Dad highlight - the duomo at Orvieto
Dad lowlight - not being able to see Pienza since it was dark when we arrived
Mom highlight - finding and eating lunch at the restaurant Brian and I tried to find in 2008 in Orvieto. It was one of the best meals I've had this far. And the duomo
Mom lowlight - the gelato at lunch that tasted like it had freezer burn
Brian highlight - Pici bolognese, roasted suckling pig and La Bandita!
Brian lowlight - the orange truck accident that delayed us and caused us to rush through Orvieto
Claibourne highlight - exploring Orvieto. Everything La Bandita, especially Martina
Claibourne lowlight - stress around the next 2 days, since I "planned" Saturday and Sunday in Tuscany
Christine highlight - the whole day!
Christine lowlight - the cold rain in Orvieto. If it's going to rain and be 40 degrees, it might as well drop a few degrees and snow.