Cooking Courses in Umbria

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A heavenly landscape, rich with artistic legacy and a unique place where you have the opportunity to live and experience life to the fullest does exist! If you really want to enjoy yourself in outstanding surroundings, charming people and exceptional cuisine then Umbria is the right place for you.

Without any doubt, Umbria is known worldwide for its delicious regional Italian cuisine and incredible wines. This is like heaven on Earth for all of those who enjoy in life, good food, wine and friendly people. If you are an adventurous person who likes exploring new things and new places, traveling to Umbria would be like going to the culinary paradise.

Many of the recipes that you will learn from the best Umbrian chefs in hands-on cooking courses have been in Umbrian families for generations now. All of those organic and fresh ingredients and various spices that they use for cooking will make your meals unforgettable. Considering that Umbria is also home of wine and cheese, your trip will bring you everything that you always dreamed about.

Italians know how to appreciate good food and good wine; therefore making their meals with love and patience. They infuse love into their cooking. The art of cooking for them is the entire process of creating a masterpiece that will astonish anyone who even gets a whiff of it.

All the products that are used in cooking classes are organically grown. The chefs will personally escort you to open air markets where you buy produce from the local farmers. They will teach you how to choose the freshest, most delicious Umbrian foods available, which is the first lesson of fine Italian cooking. You will learn the secrets of making your meals extra delicious and also learn to distinguish wines and to match them up with the meals that you are serving.

Italians know that every meal should be special and made with love. They say that if you are eating food that is tasty and looks and smells good, you will feel the one of the ultimate pleasures in life: gastronomical satisfaction. Every day should be a reason to enjoy life and you can do that by paying attention to the smaller things, like what you eat, it will only make you feel happier and healthier.

While visiting Umbria, you will learn a lot about wines such as Sagrantino, Montefalco, and Spoleto wines. You will be able to experience wine samplings in some of the oldest and most reputable Italian wineries and wine cellars in Umbria. No wonder why people always say that Italians are always happy and cheerful. They know how to live their life and how to enjoy it! A good glass of red wine can make many giddy with happiness!

By visiting Umbria, you will be able to go on custom tours of Todi, Sansepolcro, Assisi, and Trasimeno Lake and enjoy in local festivals (if available at that time of year), and explore the kitchens of many local masters who open their doors to a select few students to pass on the secrets of their mastery. A mystical land, and full of profound history and tradition, Umbria will leave you breathless and hungry. And since Umbrian people know how to celebrate life, and they are more than happy to share that with their guests, why not share in a tasting or culinary course and experience their delights? A land of free spirits and divine surroundings is everything you need to feel the real beauty of Umbria, alongside learning how to cook and eat a meal that will surely be memorable.

Exploring Umbria, its beauty, learning how to cook local meals and combining the right wines will make you feel like an expert of Italian cuisine. You will be able to visit some of the most beautiful areas in Italy. You can also enjoy some wine tours and taste new things that will leave you speechless.

The Agritourismos of Umbria

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Umbria has turned into a extremely popular vacation location recently, however by having an ever-increasing quantity of vacationers arriving into the area, it may be difficult to have an authentic Umbrian vacation experience. Among the best methods for succeeding is staying at a good Agriturismo Holiday.

What's Agriturismo?
The term “agriturismo” is actually a mix of farming and travel and leisure. The idea is actually that individuals that operate farming provide units in order to accommodate visitors. This particular lodging could be a room inside the country home with a B&B solution, a condo inside the main home, or perhaps a totally individual property. The word Agriturismo is actually lawfully guarded in Umbria therefore reserving a holiday within this kind of home ensures a person the actual genuine experience in Italy. In the Umbria area, this particular usually indicates remaining on a winery or olive-producing plantation.

Advantages of Agriturismo
An Agriturismo stay is a true Italian experience. It is nothing like lodging in a hotel or villa, and accommodation standards vary greatly. A few of the lodging tend to be basic however thoroughly clean, other lodgings are a lot more appointed. Many Agriturismo lodging have a pool along with other luxurious details. The advantage is that the price of remaining in a good Agriturismo is usually much less expensive than the usual resort, B&B or other private villas and lodgings.

Even though the majority of Agriturismo holidays tend to be on a self-catering basis, the majority of them will offer you the possibility of having dinners catered on a personal basis and prepared by the property owners. This particular ensures a delicious, well-cooked dinner for much less than what you would pay in any restaurant. A number of farmers may even welcome you inside their kitchen area to show you how they prepare the food, or even provide you with fundamental step by step directions to prepare Italian food.

Another main advantage of a good Agriturismo holiday is actually getting involved with the daily operations in the plantation. Just how much site visitors can perform is determined by the farmers and also the season when you're going to be there. However, the majority of farmers who've enrolled in the Agriturismo plan did it since they're enthusiastic about what they do and wish to share this with their guests. What better method to discover the actual winemaker’s secrets or even a brief history associated with essential olive oil production then straight from somebody active in the business? Observing local people will even provide a much better understanding on their life-style than simply heading around the main visitor sites, and it will likewise enhance your own vocabulary abilities.

Drawbacks associated with Agriturismo
Drawbacks associated with this kind of holiday tend to be few, however presently there are a wide selection from high quality lodging to low level places. Therefore, it is vital that you research your options thoroughly instead of simply reserving the very first Agriturismo you find.

Saint Francis's Life: Was All That Suffering Necessary?

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Way too long time has passed since the last post...almost a month! I cannot believe the things that happened during this time, and my trip to Umbria lengthened the space between posts even more. I am happy though as I will be able to talk about plenty of things in first person, my experiences with the people and the fantastic places of this small region in the heart of Italy.

Umbria is living its month dedicated to Saint Francis from Assis. Do you know who he is? I am pretty sure you do, but just in case you do not, here is a small overview of this saint's life and contribution to the world, and not only to the Christian Catholic religion.

Saint Francis was born in a wealthy family of silk merchants in Assis. The father was often away for work, especially in France, and at his return from a business trip he found that his wife had given birth to the son they were awaiting, and changed his name to Franciscus in honor of France.
Franciscus grew up to be a well to do kid, spending his father's wealth as much as he could, until the moment he departed for the third crusade to the "Holy Land". At his return from Jerusalem he felt the urge to change life. He no longer found any pleasure in banqueting and drinking with his friends. After abandoning his "dolce vita" companions, he centered his eyes on the beauties of the nature around Assisi, and found it was a way of exalting the creator God that gave life to his "sisters" and "brothers". He in fact started calling all things with the title of brother if referred to masculine nouns, and sister if feminine. Sister Moon and Brother Sun are an example of this. Altogether with a change in life views he also started repudiating his father's richness. It is emblematic when in the middle of the square he remained stark naked giving all he had back to his father, who was deeply against the son's changes.

From this moment on, and for another twenty years until his death, Francis lived a life of extreme poverty, without shoes, little clothing and food, and constantly punishing his body as he considered it the means to sinning and the cage of the soul. He was even used to call his body "brother body donkey" as a way of remembering himself how much he despised it. He punished it so much that he got severely hill and died at 45 after a life of extreme sufferance. During the last two years of his life he also received the stigmata.

What are the teachings of Saint Francis? I am far from being able to give a theological opinion, but after being raised a Catholic and having believed him a true saint, I now see how his legacy may have also brought much harm to our society.

If on one side Francis taught us that the essence of things is always to be preferred over a life of endless accumulation of ephemeral wealth, on the other he has completely misunderstood the role of body and soul, even within the realm of Christianity, if not on a pantheistic scale.

The way I see it, very simply put, the body is not the cage of your soul. On the contrary, it is one thing with your soul. If the concept of soul makes you uncomfortable, let's call it your true self. When you punish your body you are really punishing your true self. If Saint Francis felt the urge to do it, and felt better after doing so, that is more attributable to some sort of self persecution or even schizophrenia, and has nothing to do with religion. If one were to behave as he did he would be forcibly treated in a hospital and spend years in analysis. Just like light, our body behaves like matter and like energy at the same time.

The Catholic religion has mistakenly interpreted Jesus' teachings for centuries, and probably even exploiting them. The fact that Jesus reached his aim in life suffering and dying was merely to show that, though a mortal man, he did achieve great things in life (and I am not talking about miracles), reaching the heart of many. Christ's suffering was twisted to make pain the mean through which you can achieve a good life and perhaps sanctity. This syllogism only produced a series of silly moralisms, deep frustration, and even religious fanaticism.

I feel deeply sorry for Saint Francis and his devotion to pain and deprivation. I do not entirely reject his life, as many concepts were innovative and taught many rules for a better living and reciprocal understanding. However, he is one of the many responsible for the great divide between our inner selves, and gave great strength to the church's aims of controlling poor ignorant masses through fear for centuries. Cultivating your happiness through the simple enjoyment of everyday life, cherishing your body, is a much faster way to becoming a serene person, much more likely to create well being for yourself and others.

I would love to have your opinion on this. Please comment!

Umbrian Medieval Games

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In many cities of Umbria, during the medieval and early modern period, it was customary during certain times of year or solemn festivities to engage in horse shows and popular games, some of which arrived to this day. Others have fallen into almost complete oblivion. It was customary to run the palio setting up a horse race, with or without a rider, whose prize was the "pallium", that is a precious cloth of fine fabric, sometimes embroidered with civic insignia or with gold tooling. Palios were well known in Citta di Castello, Norcia, Gubbio, Perugia, Terni and Orvieto.
This game, the most ancient and simple, over the years was surpassed and almost definitely replaced between the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries by the Quintana joust. It consisted of individual riders usually involved hitting a target with a spear. The target was represented by a sign with colored bands, a slip-ring, or a puppet with Moorish appearance, the well-known Saracen, so fashionable especially after the battle of Lepanto.
When the image of Quintana consisted of a human figure, usually a bust, one point was worth a blow to the beard, two points the face and the maximum score was achieved by centering the middle of the forehead.
Obviously, with the changing of customs and rules and the larger influence of young aristocrats who could keep more horses and luxurious trappings, the types of prizes to winners also changed. From the prices of the beginnings consisting of civic symbols, baskets of bread, roast meat or hunting falcons, in the Seventeenth century the noble knights engaged in a real tournament were awarded gold jewelry, silk stockings and jeweled crowns.

Much less familiar, if not entirely disappeared, is the memory of two other ancient games, also very popular in the Thirteenth and Fifteenth centuries.
Such games, if one can call them that, were in fact real battles which saw bulls and dogs deployed in the field and teams of boys armed with stones. Both were common in Perugia since 1260 to honor, along with the Palio, the feast of All Saints or the patron saint of Herculaneum, which is November 1st and March.
The so-called "chasing the bull" was a sort of bull-fighting. The fight was set on dirt with a fence of poles and woven hemp rope, in which a large Chianina bull coming from Chiusi was introduced. Unlike the modern Spanish bullfight, it was not a man who fought against the beast, but a pack of trained dogs, which had the task of attacking and biting the bull.
At the end of the conflict, the carcass was cut and the meat distributed among the spectators. It's pretty obvious that with the passing of time, this practice became less and less tolerable, and such a sight in the mid-Fifteenth century, especially with Bernardiniana sermons, began to fade and hunting being prohibited.
But Perugia, as mentioned above, was famous for another game, also known as the "game of Perugia" perhaps for the fame it enjoyed, also called stone-throwing.

Todi: A Personal Experience

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Touring through Italy? Pointing the car to wherever it may go as you explore the regions of Tuscany and Umbria? A fabulous stopping point between Rome and Florence is in the Umbria region and it’s lovingly known as the enchanting town of Todi.

Do you remember when those first Visa commercials came out? Airline tickets $600, Rental car $200, exploring the Italian countryside? Priceless. The picturesque hill town, all lit up and inviting in the original commercials was the town of Todi.

The town offers relaxation second to none as you tour through the countryside. The central square of the town is known as Piazza del Popolo and is a fantastic spot to simply sit, enjoy a glass of chianti and some wonderful pappardelle pasta. Bordering the square are many venues to explore including an old tower, an ancient cathedral and La Rocca castle. Do not miss the exquisite stained glass windows or you’ll kick yourself later.

During my own visit to Todi, I stayed outside of town in a small house attached to a larger estate. I found the lodgings on www.cuendet.com and paid a small pittance for seven days that was less than a week’s stay in many hotels. The estate was extensive, and it felt like the rest of the world had ceased to exist. The Tuscan countryside lifestyle was an easy one to immerse in, without a worry in the world. Many bottles of wine and a variety of good books were consumed during the stay. For those wanting to truly get the feel of Todi as a town and immerse yourself in its culture, I would recommend staying in town. There are numerous accommodations that are first rate.

Todi is a perfect spot to centralize yourself at if day-trips throughout the region are your desire. Bordering the well positioned town are Spoleto, Perugia, Orvieto, Assisi, Montepulciano, and Cortona.
Assisi to me was the most impressive, with its massive stone walls rising up out of the fields. Driving up towards it, one is overcome by its sheer size and scope. Montepuliciano personally fostered the best wines of the region, and Corona was a joy to visit to see where the book “Under the Tuscan Sun” was based. Spoleto was a near rival to Todi in the absolute comfort that one feels walking around the main square. It is easy to lose yourself in the city, relaxing and soaking it all in. You won’t be sorry if you find time to visit Spoleto as it is a quick day-trip from Todi.

Todi is also geographically perfect as it is close to halfway between Rome and Sienna/Florence. At a meandering pace, it is a great spot to take a load off while travelling from one of the big cities to another. The lifestyle is a little slower in the smaller hill towns, and you may want to leave your watch at home. The pictures are worth a thousand words, and are ultimately… priceless. You will treasure the memories that you create in this fabulous Umbrian town forever.

Italy is one of my favorite places in the world. My other favorite is Bermuda. I write mystery/romance novels set in Bermuda. Find them at www.waynewhicher.com or on www.amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005I044L8

How to Plan a Wedding in Umbria

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Planning a wedding in Umbria is excellent choice. Wedding planners in Umbria are extremely professional and are specialized to arrange all the services for Catholic or Civil Weddings. Umbria is a peninsula in Italy that is landlocked. It does not have a coastline or a common land border with any of the countries. This region is named after the Umbri tribe which was an ancient local tribe gradually absorbed into the Greek culture. Some of the areas in this region are relatively uninhabited. Some areas are developed due to agriculture and industrial development due to which there are plenty of foreign immigrants living in this region along with the locals. As of now it is divided into two provinces- Perugia and Terni.

This place is abundant in natural resources, urban development, historic structures, castles and churches and yet is cost effective compared to the USA. Hence, you can check with the wedding planners through the ones available on websites or through your references and friends.
They provide you good service even if you want a wedding with just 10 guests or 200 guests.
There are wonderful, luxurious villas right in the heart of Umbria where you can stay for a few days before your wedding. They have exotic outdoor locations and delicious Italian cuisine.
If a couple wants a civil ceremony along with a reception, they can get married in town halls in historical structures wherein there are in-house services available.
They provide services for accommodation, chapel services, florists, musicians, garden venues, decorations and arrangements, food and drinks, photographer and all other services required for a dream wedding.

Most people seem to have got a good experience and are more than satisfied with their service. They can have a lavish, memorable wedding and can directly head to their honeymoon. Instead of looking after all the arrangements, they can relax and enjoy their wedding as they all have to plan is their budget.

A wedding ceremony could be held in an ancient private chapel with beautiful, lit candles and décor. Here you can complete all the legal formalities and the religious rituals with blessings.
Umbria is a preferred venue not only because of the costs but also due to their services, greenery, exotic locations and historical monuments. It is called the Green Heart of Italy.
There are various privately owned farmhouses that are rented for staying and enjoying an extended holiday. There are guided tours and transport availability to the airports and train stations. If you plan an extended holiday you can enjoy the local ethos, local market trips, festivals, learning local cuisine and much more in your budget.

If you want a wedding that is stress free and in a different yet exotic location, getting married in Umbria is a good option. There you have many wedding planners who give good service without extra costs of consultation. You just need to mail them your details, budget and requirements. They would send you the details about the location, food and other services according to your budget.

The Quintana Joust in Foligno

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As many knighthood competitions the actual Quintana Joust (Giostra della Quintana) is definitely something not to miss in Foligno, or during your first visit in Umbria. In the last few years the Quintana happens twice a year, with the first in June and the 2nd during September. La Sfida, the challenge, takes place in June, while La Rivincita, The Return Game is in September. In June the event is in nocturnal hours, lightened with floodlights on a Sunday evening, but in September it happens on a Weekend morning.

The Joust is associated with Foligno and is the most crucial occasion of the southern area since it underlines the beginning of summer celebrations. More and more personalities are joining the event giving the Quintana Joust more resonance in Italy.

1946 is the year of the first edition of the Joust. For 50 years now Foligno has celebrated this event that transforms the city in a magnificent Baroque revival, with marvelous costumes ornamented with laces, rich fabrics and many refinements to relive the 16th century splendor with chants and horse rides.

The nights challenge each other representing the 10 districts of Foligno. Their names are Crocebianca, Cassero, Contrastanga, Ammanniti, Badia, Giotti, Mora, Morlupo, Spada and Pugilli. The prize is the Palio, a painted fabric on a post.

The challenge of the joust happens in 3 stages. In each stage knights must spear 3 rings in succession. The rings to catch are smaller with each subsequent stage, passing from 10 to 6 centimeters in diameter. The winner is the knight catching all the rings and committing no penalties.
The event begins with the Sprasanti Fair, where you can enjoy the historic revival of the district market and buy goods with the original money of the period. You will be allowed to change your money with the fair currency at the entrance of the fair.
The nicest thing is that all districts have their own tavern, which will be open for the vent only and serve the best traditional Umbrian dishes.
The whole event ends with the costume parade and the jousting.