Changed hotels on day 7 as we headed to Gubbio for 2 nights where we would stay in an extraordinary old convent.

Our cappuccino stop today was at Lake Trasimeno which was the location of the biggest and most decisive ambush in history- Hannibal beating the Romans.

Lake Tresimeno

Then we were on to Assisi- what an incredible and moving experience to visit the Basilica di San Francesco and the tomb of St. Francis. Our wonderful guide Marco made the history and art come alive. And St. Francis’ message of love for all God’s creatures certainly could not be more important than it is in today’s world.

The Basilica

On the streets of Assisi

Michel- the craftsman who made a purse that I bought

After the amazing pilgrimage to Assisi we were on to Gubbio, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Umbria…

Looking out on Gubbio from the museum that holds ancient Etruscan language tablets

An antique car rally parading through Gubbio…

Major square in Gubbio and from the square at sunset…

Group dinner in a medieval era setting in Gubbio… Spectacular!

Day 8– went into the region of The Marches to visit Urbino and its Palazzo Ducale of the Duke Frederico.

The Palazzo… incredible architecture and beautiful art. We also toured the underground level of the servants and working quarters- kitchen, food storage, horse stables, etc. Fascinating and certainly a peak into the window of the wide discrepancy between the elites and their servants.

In the Palazzo… The Venus of a Urbino Returns to Court (1538) … fantastic masterpiece by Titian that is on loan from the Ufizzi. Was originally intended to be in this palace in Urbino.

Urbino, a university town… no caps and gowns for these graduates– laurel wreaths instead! They sure were having a good time!

After returning to Gubbio we took the “birdcage” lift ( basically an open gondola that looks like a birdcage) down the mountain- what a spectacular bird’s eye view of the medieval town!

Learned about the Palio Della Balestra festival which has been going on since 1461. Men from neighborhoods run down the mountain with large “candles”  in celebration of Saint Ubaldo. Photo of the “candles” inside the Basilica of St. Ubaldo.