32 5, 2019 Thursday, December insidehalton.com Milton Canadian Champion | 2 4 y 4 : A - = @ LBs A EA ¥ Exploring Italy's green hear 'By Rosalind Stefanac With rolling hills of lush pine, fir and cy- press, Umbria 'is aptly dubbed the green heart (Cuore Verde) of Italy Located just east of Tuscany and north of Rome, this pic- turesque part of the country is often over shadowed by its popular neighbours, but is no less beautiful or interesting. It's far less crowded and ideal for quiet exploring. During four glorious days in June, we dis- cover Umbria has a host of hidden gems beyond its stunning landscape. From rustic family vacation homes to fivestar villas, the area provides a variety of agro-tourism lodg- ings where travellers can experience rural Italy in all its natural beauty. We begin at the family-run Agriturismo LEImo where we stay in a generously sized apartment within a recently restored an- cient stone farmhouse. A lovely outdoor pool provides the perfect view of hills and MEDICAL * Are you suffering from ingrown there is a cure toenails? .. Quick in office procedure to permanently correct your ingrown toenail hazelnut trees. Our meals, prepared by the fainily and made from farm fresh ingredi- ents, consist of local cheeses and prosciutto, along with homemade pasta, meats and desserts accompanied by tasty local wines. Touring at least a few of the vineyards throughout the region is a must.We head to Titignano next,a medieval castle with some 40 rooms overlooking grape vines as far as the eye can see.We sip reds and whites pro- duced by Umbria's popular Tenuta di Salvia- no.Each is perfectly paired with dishes such as crostini with fava beans and artichoke, as well as tagliatelle with truffles. I've never tasted pasta this good! Later we head to Palazonne where wine- maker and owner Giovanni Dubini shares his travel stories as we dine on the terrace as the sun sets, The property has an ele- gant boutique hotel and offers wine tours throughout the day Dubini's wine is consid- ered one of the most significant labels in the SOLUTIONS Call fora an n Appointment » « Milton 289- 878- 7334 over 100,000 HAPPY FEET TREATED! 450 Bronte Street t South, L Unit 101 » medicalfootsolutions. com ---------------------------------------- ssi region and we don't regret buying several bottles to enjoy back home. Our palettes are further tantalized with olive oils cultivated and produced in the region. We stop at olive oil mill Frantoio Ricci in Montecchio where Alessandro Ricci gives us a tour of his expansive olive groves and provides a step-by-step account of how these green jewels are transformed into the award-winning oils we sample. We drink shots of extra-virgin olive oll and | learn how to distinguish between those best accompanied by. crusty bread, 'and those ideally sprinkled atop a main course. Ricci's products are available in tins of three and five litres for easy transport. To offset the eating and drinking we've been indulging ini, we spend a day exploring Or vieto in southwestern Umbria by foot. This medieval town, perched on a cliff has been populated since the Etruscan times and has more than 1,000 caves and tunnels to prove SER le PLIST EF ~ Companionship ~ Personal Support Care ~ Medication Reminder ~ Transportation ~ Mental & Physical Stimulation it. We delve 28 metres below ground via th Labirinto di Adriano, which was accidental: discovered when the pastry shop owner above started doing some renovations in th 1980s. ; After excavating for 20 years, the space i now a museum on three levels where tou; ists, can see remnants of Estrucan life as i was thousands of years before. When we. r emerge, the shop owners offer us delicion cookies and cappuccino we just can't resist In Orvieto we walk down cobbleston: streets that lead us through markets, ol churches and quaint shops. Eventually we reach the stunning Duomo, a 13th-centur cathedral that takes my breath away. Not onl is the exterior of mosaic and black and whit: stripes an impressive sight, but the colourfu frescoes painted throughout the interior cel ings depict a fascinating look at Christal tals. Be sure to book a guide who will poin out all the enthralling details. From there we head to the historic well © St. Patrick created bétween 1527-1537, wher we descend 248 steps and back up again. Th: spiral staircases were created for donkeys carry water to the surface. It's well worth th experience--plus we finally work off som: of those excess calories. After that workout, we are ready to indulg again with a scrumptious meal at Locand: Rosati, a farmhouse restaurant/inn locates on a hill just outside of Orvieto.We enjoy fresi vegetables from the garden and a succulen pork roast roasted in the wood oven on sit After our meal we take a walk to explore th: countryside at our doorstep. Theres no denying it, this green heart c . Italy has captured our hearts too.. Home _25ta A iP ol v id i ~~ a 905-749-9466 | 330 Bronte St. S., Suite 111 § Milton, Ontario, L9T 7X1 E of info@home2stayseniorcare.ca +H i www. home2stayseniorcare.ca