Reflections on My 40 Years in Umbria

Having finished our luxurious after-arrival High Tea, we set out on a brisk, bright afternoon for the Royal Mile to go to the Gothic St. Giles

for an early music organ concert. (Our first glimpse of the Gothic portal and stone carvings. More photos will follow in a subsequent chapter of this blog.) It was a beautiful short walk from the hotel with many picturesque "closes" (narrow medieval alleyways)

leading away on either side of the main street. The "closes" (or "wynds") often housed a concentration of certain trades or certain types of commerce.

Old Town, while particulary enjoyable to visit today with charming old shops and interesting architectural details

was a densely populated area with deplorably poor sanitary conditions which prompted the development of New Town. Richer townspeople immediately flocked to this more desirable area.

We completed our first evening by strolling, admiring, observing, "floating" in the magical atmosphere before a late dinner and our return to use the Spa at the hotel before ending our day by gazing, from our beds, at the Old Town view out of our windows.