I kept a lot of pictures from today — apologies in advance. I was really charmed by Assisi and by the views from the day's route. BDan, Scott, and i did the loop ride around Mount Subasio. We got a slow start. The highlight of breakfast was do-it-yourself caffe latte (a pitcher of coffee and a pitcher of excellent fresh milk on each table), and with one thing and another, it was 9:45 by the time we were underway. We then rode down to Spello, up around the mountain, and back down again. The day was not free of incident, but the views were gorgeous and we were pleased with ourselves for making the ride. We got back at around 16:20, then headed to the Basilica of St. Francis. After sunset, we had a nice dinner in town, in which i shared 'local long pasta' (not unlike udon) with walnuts and arugala and a rabbit dish, and, for dessert, panna cotta and more biscotti, soaked in a not-overly-sweet red wine this time.
morning haze in the valley below Assisi |
hazy farmlands below Assisi |
hazy mountains above Assisi |
olives! |
...growing on a tree |
still a bit hazy |
some of the roadside shrines doubled as fountains, where we could get fresh water |
BDan and i couldn't resist trying the olives. They were unripe and unbrined and tasted vile. I decided the taste was a good way to make sure i drank enough water. |
Spello |
view across the valley near Spello |
another view of Spello |
a building we passed along the roadside |
...and its arch |
around the corner from Spello, we found another valley |
clouds over the mountain |
Roman aquaduct, no fooling |
view back towards Spello |
view across the valley |
Panorama of clouds over the valley near the aquaduct — you can see Spello again near the right |
probably not a cell tower |
a town in the valley |
rock by the side of the road |
another panorama of clouds over the mountains |
trees on the hillside |
hillside seen during the climb to Collepino |
looking back during the climb to Collepino — this is not your route |
danger: hexagons |
after the 1000-foot climb to Collepino, BDan and Scott are very happy to see that this restaurant is open |
Chandelier in the restaurant, where we had a decent meal, including a piece of garlic bread soaked in olive oil and salt. After the climb, eating 1/3 of a piece seemed appealing. Under other circumstances, i have no idea what we would have done with it. |
arched ceiling of the restaurant, photographed while waiting for our roasted eggplant (worth the wait) |
looking down from Collepino |
bare hillside seen from Collepino |
construction, ruin, and/or fire pit, in Collepino |
Collepino uses one set of house numbers for the entire town, rather than dividing by street. There are not very many streets. |
Scott menaces the streets of Collepino with his camera |
sign of the Taverna San Silvestro, where we ate lunch |
building in Collepino, and evidence of at least one named street |
i liked this garage door |
we're in the administrative district of Spello |
wheel in a wall |
Looking back from Collepino to the road below which we had taken. |
Looking back at Collepino from the next rise |
another valley |
a town (not sure which one) |
sun in the valley, and another tree |
the road behind |
these were sometimes growing on those tall trees |
valley to the northeast (probably) of Mount Subasio |
a town (not sure which one) |
berries (we did not eat) |
clouds, shadows, mountains |
Scott, climbing |
Scott, climbing |
panorama in honor of BDan fixing his flat tire |
BDan, returning victorious from Armenzano |
BDan, passing |
my bike, at Armenzano (750m) |
northeast view from Armenzano |
more view from Armenzano |
the road, descending again |
Scott and BDan, resting |
more view |
bird taking off from a tin roof |
panorama past Armenzano |
rooftops, a view, and some fall colors |
mountains to the north, visible as we start to approach Assisi |
more mountains to the north — this might be the Ponte Grande. It's very tall, whatever it is |
looking west at the road leading to Assisi |
the Rocca of Assisi, seen as we approach |
road to Assisi |
valley north of Assisi |
mountains to the north |
Scott and BDan at the scenic overlook |
facade of the Temple of Minerva, in Assisi (redone as a church inside) |
phantom door |
phantom fresco |
potted plants |
approaching St. Francis's basilica |
BDan crossing |
statue |
St. Francis's basilica |
window of St. Francis's basilica |
art in the courtyard of St. Francis's |
arches and windows in the courtyard of St. Francis's |
interior of the Temple of Minerva |
statues in the Temple of Minerva |
front column of the Temple of Minerva |
Temple of Minerva |
sunset over Assisi |
sunset over Assisi and the valley |
more Assisi sunset |
Scott, BDan, Joe, Tom, and David watching the sunset |
Beth, Scott, BDan, Tom, and Bill watching the sunset |
sunset over this tower, once more for good measure |
sunset over the valley |
busker playing... i don't remember now, something totally incongruous like 'Scarborough Fair' |
valley below Assisi in the dark |