Harvesting the olives at Villa Bastiola

This year we were lucky enough to have some guests staying with us at harvest time.  Kathy and Tom from Maine in the States who couldn't have been nicer and who spent a lovely morning harvesting the olives from our trees in the gardens at Villa Bastiola.

This year's crop wasn't great - the long hot summer meant that the olives were fairly small and not all of the trees had produced any olives.  So the yield was low, but we managed to get just enough to have nearly 10 litres of delicious green/golden nectar of extra virgin olive oil to see us through the year.

Although Kathy and Tom couldn't fit much into their suitcases, they did manage to make room to take back a couple of bottles of the oil to enjoy at home, reminiscing about their holidays here.

The weather was gorgeous, no fog, so the olives were dry, blue skies and sunshine.  Pretty cold at first, it soon warmed up and we were able to have a coffee break on the terrace!

We served a traditional Italian lunch for the workers, with crostini, oodles of pasta al forno and pannacotta to finish up.

Kathy and Tom have travelled extensively throughout Italy and particularly like Umbria. They had been to this area before and were keen to come back in time for the Truffle fair at Città di Castello at the beginning of their stay.

They really enjoyed the self catering apartment at Villa Bastiola and shared it first with their daughter and son-in-law and then with some old friends from the States.  The two en-suite bedrooms and lovely kitchen, make for a really comfortable place to stay.

For full details about the self catering apartment at Villa Bastiola, please visit www.villabastiola.com 

Recommended by Trip Advisor and Alastair Sawdays.

White Truffle Fair, Città di Castello, Umbria - 4-6 Nov 2011

Truffle Fair, Città di Castello, Umbria

The White Truffle Fair at Città di Castello in Umbria takes place every year and is a fantastic event.  

This coming weekend, the historic centre will be full of stands and gazebos selling everything from dried porcini to truffle sauces, black truffles and white truffles, olive oil fresh from the presses this year, to salami, (the best are from the Norcia region of Umbria), cheeses, breads and traditional cakes and sweets.

White truffle is currently being sold at 3,300 Euro per kg this year!!!! That makes it about100 Euro for one very thin slice on top of your plate of your pasta - it just could be some of the most expensive food you will every eat!!! And the most delicious...

The first time I went to the fair (6 years ago now), I was overwhelmed by the fragrance and smells coming from the gazebo in the main square.  There's nothing like it and it really seems to mean that autumn is well and truly here.  

Not to miss are the hot roasted chestnuts with a glass of vin novello (the "new" red wine from this year's harvest).

There are all sorts of activities happening too, chefs showing their skills cooking truffles, workshops and classes to take part in.

I always say it but late October and early November are a great time to visit this part of Italy.  It really comes into its own, with truffles, porcini, olive oil, salami and cheeses being found and produced locally.  The cuisine of Umbria is hard to beat!

Come and stay with us next year for this special occasion - www.villabastiola.com . 

Festa d'Autunno, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, 14-16 Oct

Castle at Monte Santa Maria Tiberina

The Festa D'Autunno or Autumn Festival takes place very year in the tiny mountaintop hamlet of Monte Santa Maria Tiberina.

The Monte is the highest peak for miles around - wherever you go in the area you can always get your bearings from the castle (see the photo) which you can see silhouetted against the skyline!

The Festival runs from the 14th to 16th October with lots of events taking place.  There are stalls selling local produce and crafts, flagthrowers, medieval processions and traditional Italian music as well as a dinner in the Castle itself (still owned and recently restored by the Bourbons of the Monte) at 9pm on the first evening with original recipes from the 1600s...!!!

It's a great chance to join with the locals and really get a feel of how they still celebrate and maintain their ancient traditions and customs today.

The lovely apartment at Villa Bastiola is just 20 minutes drive away and makes a great base for exploring the area.  Find full details and info on www.villabastiola.com

Sagra della Castagna, Morra - 8/9 Ottobre 2011

Roasting Chestnuts

The Sagra della Castagna (Chestnut Fair) at Morra, is held every year at the beginning of October just as the chestnut season is starting.

Morra is a small but thriving village on the road from Città di Castello to Cortona (Tuscany).  The wooded hills in the area around Morra are full of chestnut trees and produce chestnuts that are highly valued for their quality.

Chestnut gathering is a really serious business!  At this time of the year, you will find the woods full of locals searching for the best chestnuts.  You can only harvest if you own the woods - don't think about scrumping someone elses'!! 

During the festival you can find out how widely chestnuts are used in Italian cuisine from simply roasted, to cakes and pastries, jams, marron glacè and even honey collected during the time when the chestnut trees are in flower.

It's a lovely event and there is usually traditional Italian music and dancing with a young group coming up from Lake Trasimeno to take part.

A really good way to pass a Sunday afternoon especially if the sun's out and the sky is blue.

The apartment at Villa Bastiola is just 10 minutes away from Morra, so makes a great base to visit this festival and the rest of the area.

Truffle Fair, Citerna, 8 - 9 October 2011

Delicious black truffles (tartufo nero)

La Bisaccia del Tartufaro (or the Truffle Hunters' Satchel)

The tiny medieval hilltop village of Citerna (just over the border in Tuscany)  is host to the annual truffle fair this coming weekend on the 8th and 9th of October.

The streets are lined with stands from local suppliers selling everything woodlandy from truffles and porcini mushrooms to honey, chestnuts, homemade jams, and vin santo.

All the suppliers are based in the north of Umbria and it is a wonderful chance to taste the delicious goodies that the Upper Tiber Valley has to offer.

October is a fantastic month to see Umbria, with the autumn colours just setting in and lots of festivals taking place, including Eurochocolate in Perugia! The apartment at Villa Bastiola offers a great base to stay while visiting the area and enjoying the different festivals.

Anne's Italy - Guided tours in Umbria

Anne Robichaud has lived in Umbria for over 30 years and is the only OFFICIAL English speaking tour guide for the region.

Believe me, that means something! I once thought about sitting the exams to become a tour guide but the whole thing was a minefield! Italian bureaucracy at its worst! It was almost impossible to find out when the exams were going to be held and then you could study the whole of Umbrian history only to find that the examining board could just decide to ask you a question like, "Tell me about the paintings inside the Church of San Francesco at Montone", meaning you had to have visited every nook and crany of this region, every tiny little church and oratorio and remember every last detail.   It wasn't for me! So I really admire Anne having persisted and gained this recognition.

Taking a tour with Anne will really help you see the true Umbria.  Not just the one in the guidebooks, or the pretty postcard images of medieval hilltop towns, but will include the whys and wherefores, meeting the locals, sharing their customs and traditions and enjoying the local cuisine as you go.

One of her blogs is on how to choose the best ice cream while you are out sightseeing! What more could you want?! Learning all the history of Umbria whilst savouring your favourite flavour of a delicious creamy gelato.

Her website is www.annesitaly.com where you can find all information about her tours, the dates and prices.  She is also very happy to custom make a tour for you.

While you are staying at the lovely apartment at Villa Bastiola, why not get in touch and book a perfect day trip out?

Cookery Courses in Umbria with Dana and Melchiorre

This summer we were lucky enough to bump into amazing Sardinian chef Melchiorre and his American partner, pastry chef, Dana.

They create an amazing team and offer catering, cookery courses for all ages (including groups for kids) and cheese making classes.

While you are staying at the lovely apartment at Villa Bastiola, why not consider taking an afternoon learning to make some of the delicious dishes that Italy is famous for in the stunning kitchen at the apartment? 

If you are really want to take it easy and not self cater all the time, Dana and Melchiorre will even come to the apartment and cook for you.

Dana is a fully trained masseuse so to make your holiday totally relaxing, you could book her for a massage as well!

Full details about this incredible couple can be found at:

http://mangiamangiaitaly.wordpress.com/

Details of the apartment at Villa Bastiola can be found at www.villabastiola.com .