Saturday, May 4 - Norcia, Cemetery and Family Dinner

 

Norcia is famous for many things - black truffles, wild boar, all types of sausages and Saint Benedict who was born there in 480 AD. 
But for us, Tony has family there.  As our Italian language skill grows, each trip lasts longer.  The first time we met Tony's cousin Antonietta, we spent 30 minutes with her.  The second time, 5 hours and we met more cousins.  This time, we visited for 3 days and it was non-stop activity and eating!
  

 

 

 The main gate

 

 

 

The main street leading from Piazza San Benedetto and looking back to the main gate.

 

 

Local food products

 

 

 

Piazza San Benedetto

 

 

Church of San Benedetto

 

 

 

Statue of San Benedetto

 

Next, we went to the Cemetery to visit the graves of Tony's grandmother and members of her family.

 

 

 

 

We find it very interesting and informative that the Italians place a picture of the deceased on their tombstone.

 

Tonight we met Tony's cousins at the major hotel in town - l'Hotel Grotta Azzurra.

It's a marvelous old hotel and former granary.

 

 The grill

One of the dining rooms

 

 

The cousins from left to right - Luisa, Francesco, Fabio, Tony and Antonietta.

Antonietta has been our contact over the years. 

 

Fabio is a blood cousin & Luisa is his wife.  Francesco and Antonietta are brother and sister and are step-cousins.  Tony's grandfather married their aunt after his 1st wife died.

 

 

 



Sunday, May 5 - Castelluccio & family dinner

Castelluccio is a small mountain town famous for its lentils. 

 

To reach Castelluccio we drove over the mountains surrounding Norcia and into a wide valley.

 

 

 

Leaving Norcia's valley

 

Crossing the mountains

First glimpse of Castelluccio valley

 



 

 

 

Castelluccio on a beautiful summer day

 

Leaving Castelluccio and returning to Norcia valley

 

 

Now, lunch with the family.  Today we had pasta with a veal sauce, salad, an omelet of black truffles, roasted meat and dessert.

 

Walking in Luisa and Fabio's backyard

 

 Luisa and Antonietta

 



 

Luisa's kitchen from which many marvelous meals originated.

 

 

Looking at pictures of family members who live in the United States

 



 



Monday, May 6 - Piedivalle & Farewells

Today we visited Piedivalle, the birth place of Tony's grandfather.  It is VERY small and remotely located in the mountains.  See those buildings?  That's it!!

 

And this is the town.

Local monastery of Abbazia di Sant'Eutizio

 

 

 

Monastery courtyard

Antonietta

 

Fabio and Luisa talking with the priest whom we later saw on an Italian TV program.

 

Judi trying to imitate Antonietta

 

My hero!  He rescued me!

 

Meanwhile, Antonietta and Luisa are making mischief.

 

 

 

 

 

With all this fun, we're ready for more of Luisa's fabulous cooking.

Today we had pasta, sausages, veal, salad, dessert and Antonietta's limoncello.

 

 

 

 

Three hours after we ate lunch, we were dining at the Granary!  We were having so much fun that we forgot to take pictures!!  We must return and do it all again!