With the vendemmia (grape harvest), first phases of the wine-making, the olive harvest and benfinita dinner, and the closing of Genius Loci behind us, today Maurizio and I felt like relaxing in our favorite way: by taking a relaxed drive in the country to photograph and, hopefully, to "happen upon" new places.
The bright, clear, warm weather was irresistible: we stopped at the inn for a few minutes and noticed a different depth and vibrancy in the colors of our vineyards. Every day the vistas gets more stunning!
views from Genius Loci
We continued on towards Massa Martana where we enjoyed an aperitif in the sun at an outdoor cafè before continuing on to Giano where, yes, we "happened upon" a very simple trattoria, La Locanda del Dio Janus.
It was a rather non-descript place...that we loved. Incredible value for the fixed menu of the day: several hot and cold appetizers, including coratella and tripe - homemade tortellini in a creamy mushroom/truffle sauce - lentils with wild fennel and anise. The atmosphere was very relaxed, cordial and low-key and the food was the epitome of traditional home cooking at its best. It was exactly the kind of place we always hope to "happen upon".
The short drive home was bright and colorful:
and amusing!
Halloween Italian style (with Spello in the distance)
a couple of the abandoned abbeys and monasteries in the area
Comments (2)
Mary-all your photos from the last three days are incredible. Thank you for sharing your magical land and inn with the rest of us.
Posted by janie | November 2, 2009 6:55 PM
Posted on November 2, 2009 18:55
Mary, you and Maurizio must have had a wonderful day, with such beautiful vistas to enjoy, great food, good wine and a good reason to relax after a hectic summer!
Posted by sandrac | November 2, 2009 10:17 PM
Posted on November 2, 2009 22:17