Time to leave the slow life at the agriturismo, and pick up the pace a little bit as we continue deeper into Umbria. Heaven forbid we should pick up the pace too quickly though. Before we leave Fontanaro we take a stroll past the grape vines, past the bee hives, and on to the olive oil mill.
| Fontanaro processes all of its own olives on the premises. We take a quick peek at how it is done, before saying our good-byes. After lots of olive oil purchases, and lots of hugs, we load up the van and say a final farewell. | 
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| But we don’t get far. It’s already lunch time, so we stop in the tiny town of Paciano for a really delicious lunch. This is the appetizer plate for one! We eat fabulous dishes like a cold salad made from locally sourced beans and perch from nearby Lago Trasimeno. Someone orders pasta filled with local greens and herbs, and their grilled meats are delicious. Okay, now….....we’re really going to hit the road. | 
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| We’re on our way to Spello, but first we make a quick stop at one of the loveliest churches I have ever seen. It’s not the church itself that impresses as much as what is hiding inside of it. Inside this gigantic church is a tiny gem called the Portiuncula; the hut-like, but heart-stopping tiny church that St. Francis rebuilt himself as a gathering place for his ever-increasing number of followers back in the 1200’s. (Note: This photo was taken on a previous trip. Photos of the interior of this church are not allowed.) |
| Finally we arrive to Spello with plenty of time to settle into our individual apartments before our big wine tasting dinner tonight. Spello is one of my favorite Umbrian hill towns and holds a special place in my heart. For some reason, I find this town very relaxing. For its tiny size, it holds an inordinate number of delicious restaurants and cute shops. Yet, it retains its very small town feel. Meals here seem to go on forever just like the panoramic views seen from the medieval walls. I love it here. | 
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Tonight we dine and taste with Roberto and Irene Angelini, the father/daughter team of Enoteca Properzio. Our group has a private room to ourselves. Food begins to arrive, wine begins to flow…. As each course arrives, Roberto and Irene pop back in to pour a new wine and tell us a little about it. Then we are left alone to enjoy our meal until the next item arrives. The food is wonderful and the wines are fantastic. The evening continues on with lots of laughter, conversation, jokes…..no one is looking at a clock. This is how a meal should be enjoyed.
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And so ends another day of the tour! Tomorrow we’ll be spending the day in nearby Assisi. Stay tuned…
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