We then headed to a small village just south of Piegaro to explore for the rest of the day . . . Citta della Pieve. We got there just after 1pm and decided the first thing to find was a restaurant. The one we found was a local's hangout and our food was outstanding. But one thing we have trouble getting used to in Italy is timing. Almost all of the shops and tourist opportunities close up shop from 1pm until about 3 or 4 or 4:30 pm. Our lunch kept us busy until 2:30 or so, but after that, we walked along the streets, window shopping and viewing the architecture . . . waiting until 3pm. But it came and went and then 3:30 and even 4pm came and went and we still couldn't get into any of the shops. So finally, about 4:30 we headed for home. I just know that at 4:35, all of the shops opened and it was business as usual until 7pm when they closed for the night.
At home, we prepared for a big feast for tonight, only to discover that our guests thought Thursday was the day for our big party. So we packaged up everything and fixed a quick meal of ravioli and roasted veggies. Since our table was set outside, we ate on the patio near the pool while the sun set behind us and we all told tales of of our house and building adventures. Tom and Colleen build and remodel houses for a living, so they had lots of tales to tell and Dan and I added a few of our own.
An early package of Perugina chocolates on display at the Nestles chocolate museum in Perugia.
Packaging on display at Perugina.
Dan shows these are huge cacao pods. Inside these are many cacao beans.
Lisa and Lori in front of the pods.
the Baci is a famous chocolate from italy with hazlenut paste, a hut in the center and the whole thing covered with chocolate. It's really delicious and we tried it and many of Perugina's other tasty recipes.
Our pet of the day was a small dog in Citta della Pieve that was walking along the narrow streets as we explored the village.
Dan and Ardel, standing in the entrance of an abandoned university that is now used for theatre performances. Built in the 13th century, the interior was beautiful with it's frescoed walls and pillared arches.
A small plaque above the interior doorway of the university.
These ironwork screens were on many of the windows in the village.
This bell tower was built into one of the walls of the hill town.
The church was unusual in that an image of the madonna was above the altar.
One of the six side altars, all were decorated with marble and painted frescoes.
The pet of the day was also in our restaurant happily sleeping under the table of his owners.
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