Pack Up the Babies and Grab the Old Ladies! (as my dad would say)

It's airport time! Off to PHL and will arrive in Rome tomorrow morning. Until then, a taste of what's ahead (apologies in advance that readers will not actually be able to taste the grapes, olives, gelattos, expressos ahead...but don't worry, if you lick your screen, I won't tell anyone)... Ciao!

SATURDAY, JULY 9: FIRST HALF-DAY EXCURSION by van with tour-guide Francesca Sensini to the nearby hilltown of BEVAGNA, where we’ll visit (among other things) an intact medieval house, the remnants of a Roman amphitheatre, and a still-functioning Roman mill from the 3rd century B.C.

SUNDAY, JULY 10: SECOND HALF-DAY EXCURSION by van with tour-guide Francesca Sensini to the nearby hilltown of SPELLO, with a possible side-trip to a frantoio, an olive-pressing establishment. Spello is loaded with spectacular artwork and architecture—and has very steep streets! A stunning town!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13: ALL-DAY EXCURSION TO ASSISI with Francesca Sensini as our tour-guide. We’ll have a tour with Francesca of the great Basilica of St. Francis, the upper and lower churches; we’ll hike to the Rocca Maggiore above town; some of us may hike to the church of San Damiano of St. Claire just out of town; and we’ll go by bus to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.

FRIDAY, JULY 15: THIRD HALF-DAY EXCURSION by Remoli van with Francesca to SPOLETO. We’ll prowl the city together and visit the dizzyingly high fortress-castle-museum of the Rocca Albornoziana.

SATURDAY, JULY 16: FOURTH AND FINAL HALF-DAY EXCURSION by Remoli van with Francesca to the nearby hilltown of MONTEFALCO, which outing will end with a pleasant excursion to a wine-producing estate (Montefalco wines are prized throughout Italy) for a wine-tasting or degustazione.