Today we took off for for the Adriatic Coast, for a town called Sirolo. There we peered down at a beach only reached by boat. The beach we went to required climbing down what seemed like miles of stairs to a rocky beach filled with quite a number of people. We spent a bit of …
Today we look more closely at the facade of the church in the Piazza della Repubblica. It was once called the Church of the Adoration of Death, as it was connected to the brotherhood of the poor who were responsible for taking care of prisoners and burying the dead. The hour glass shape around the …
The walls of Jesi are not totally intact around the city, but enough of it remains to get a very good idea of what it must have been like to live in a walled city. The main square, the Piazza della Repubblica, serves as the meeting place for our group. These men closely supervise the …
Today we took off toward the coast, toward Genga, leaving behind Fabriano. We passed through what’s called the Gola di Frassasi, a deep gorge of the Sentino River that runs for miles. We visited the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Frassasi, which required climbing up a very long and steep trail passing stations of the …
I had to take a bus to Fabriano, because Urbino does not have a train station. Adalberto very kindly gave me a ride to the bus station in what I thought was plenty of time to get organized. On the way, we talked about the Festa dell’Aquilone. “I hate it! I hate it!” He couldn’t …
Today the streets are full of caravans and noisemakers from the various contrade who ride through the streets voicing their hopes for victory in the Aquilone festival. I visit the Oratorio of San Giuseppe, right down the street from my lodging. I was not prepared for the lavishly decorated chapel. The Confraternity included members of …
Today I wanted to start out at the market which takes place each Saturday. Unfortunately, it required walking up this street to reach it. I took it slowly and came across this shop showing basketry in the window. It was closed, but I will try again later. The market was active and vibrant. It seemed …
Today started out iffy because of the possible train sciopero/strike lurking in the ether. Due to the deaths of five maintenance workers, the train unions called a strike for 24 hours starting in the afternoon of August 31st. All was very unclear. Were the trains going to run? I headed to the train station where …
This morning I took a tour sponsored by the Ravenna Tourist Office. The guide gave excellent explanations, taking us first to the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, which was constructed during the reign of the Ostrogoth ruler Theodoric the Great as his palace chapel in the 6th century. It was founded as an Arian church for …
The train passes agricultural fields on the way from Vicenza to Padua to Ferrara then Ravenna. Lots of stops with my enormous suitcase, which I needed to carry my steamer pot to the Val Taleggio. Fortunately there are friendly and helpful people all along the way to help me lug the luggage. The rain stopped …