Cortona and Lake Trasimeno

Ciao tutti!
It is Thanksgiving Day but Italy doesn't even notice! We're having some Italian friends over Sunday for an American-style day of gluttony. Turkey (tacchino) is easily found here, we just had to order one whole from our local butcher. A friend from Rome brought us up some of the other staples, like cranberries and pumkin pie filling, from the UN commissary.

Last weekend we made a day trip to Cortona, about 45 minutes away in Tuscany. This town was made famous by the Francis Mayes book Under The Tuscan Sun. It was such a huge success tourism flourished. But there was a worm in that apple. Rumor has it that they are now selling their house there because bus loads (literally) of tourists would pull up in front of their house to get a glimpse, ruining that loved Tuscan tranquility.

But we were lucky to see it on a beautiful November day, essentially tourist-free.

The Piazza Reppublica and the 'town hall':





There is a wonderful Eutruscan museum here. The Eutruscans were a fascinating people that lived in this area well before Rome came to dominate the Italian peninsula. The only archeological remains that can be found are in their tombs that dot the countryside. Their language is still largely indeciferable. The Greeks influenced them greatly, the copied their artistic style and borrowed their gods.

Here is a statue of Hericles (Hercules):



Sarcophigi found in the tombs:



There is a row of medeival houses on the old fortified wall:



A view from the wall of the cemetary:



The symbol of Cortona:



Make an offering and light a candle:



The art museum here houses the very famous "Annunciation" by Fra Angelico. Its in all of the art history books (I studied it). And it is a masterpiece.



Here is the Chiesa di St Francesco (13th century):





Cortona is on a serious incline..makes Perugia look flat.



Another day, another 13th century church...



But his one does have the corpse of Santa Margherita on display:



Playing on eutruscan stones:



The Medici fortress in the background is being restored:



Can't beat a sunset....





Wait! Can't beat a sunset with an amazing gelato:



A mysterious whole in the city walls:




We took a ride out to Lake Trasimeno Tuesday with friends who know of this truck stop that makes amazing food. Erik got to drive the Vespa. Lulu and Felix also got a ride:



Happy Dad:







With our friend Mila:



Happy Thanksgiving to all.