Experiencing Umbria
Discover the joys of Umbria through culinary tours, villa rentals and photography workshops.
Nestled just outside the tiny town of Cannara, the Villa Fattoria del Gelso is a fully restored 17th-century farm villa that is available for rental and that serves as headquarters for fabulous food and wine tours led by owners Bill and Suzy Menard, who also own Bella Italia, the popular Italian specialty shop in Bethesda, Md.
In addition, the villa hosts the annual spring and fall Umbria Photo Workshops, led by husband and wife photographers Frank Van Riper and Judith Goodman, co-authors of the internationally bestselling book Serenissima: Venice in Winter.
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BENVENUTI A CERAMICA, the best place for finding Italian Maiolica for your tableware and decorative needs. Twenty years ago, my family was searching for a set of dishes for our new home in Spoleto, Italy. My husband and I went to Rome only to discover the pottery we admired most was made locally, almost in our backyard.
The craftsmen of Deruta were continuing the centuries old tradition of creating maiolica. Developed more than 600 years ago, it’s the technique of applying a glossy base glaze whitened with tin oxide 
onto fired clay pottery. Then vivid colors are added and the pieces fired again. The finished work is shiny and rich with colors as warm as an Italian landscape.
The artisans who produce maiolica carry on the proud traditions of their families and villages. The pottery studios were once in danger of closing, but today their skills and creativity are in demand worldwide. At Ceramica, we are honored to have played a part in the revival and renaissance of classic Italian pottery.
CONCIERGE IN UMBRIA is a comprehensive resource for the discerning traveler. If you are planning to come to Italy for months, weeks, or only a few days, discover the difference between having a pleasant vacation and enjoying a truly unforgettable experience. Our itineraries are tailor made to accommodate your desires and interests, while highlighting the very best that a destination can offer.
Cooking classes, artisan crafts, wine tastings, and guided tours with experts in art, history and archeology are only a few of the insider experiences that we make available to you.
We design comprehensive itineraries throughout the Italian peninsula – customized travel plans and private Italian itineraries created just for you. We are a full service, independent travel agency and can see to all of your travel needs from hotel reservations to rail tickets, car rentals, private drivers and guides.
www.conciergeinumbria.net
We left our hearts in Umbria, and our money in Deruta. We live a few miles away from Ceramica’s Chester Connecticut location, and have enjoyed purchasing from them for many years. They will even help you ship items purchased in Deruta back to the US on their container to save you money!
Hi Greg, thanks for your kind words about Ceramica. Let us know next time you’ll be traveling in Italy and stop by the Chester shop to say hi anytime.
This years trip will be two weeks traveling the lesser traveled areas of Calabria, and finishing with a week in Sicily with attention to Siracusa and Melilli. The ceramics of Sicily have a distinctive coloring and style, differing from Deruta, but very beautiful. Will certainly stop in at Chester in the next month or so.
Just saw you and Jill at the Sachem Library. Enjoyed your talk very much. Thanks for spending your night off with us. It was truly fun.
@ Mary Volpe Davis – Thanks, Mary. We had fun, too.
Hi Michael! It was SO great to see you and Jill again in Enter Laughing in Sag Harbor (fingers, toes and eyes crossed for Broadway!), and sincerely appreciated being able to join you for dinner as we dined with the perching seagulls :o)
I look forward to your blogs and hope to see you both again soon – God bless!
@ Pat Grisetti — It was great to see you, too. Don’t worry – we’ll cover Josh in the hurricane.
just catching up on some old postings. in this case…… catch a breath. if jill is simply gefawing you are ahead of the game. my wife karen would be on the floor hysterical laughter eminating. and i don’t even cook. no… i eat… a lot. too much beef. too much bread… too many spuds….. you’ve got the picture. and from the sounds of it that picture can be reflected by your mirror. my advice….. just enjoy and drop the raddish.
you friend from City….. jerry
Happy New Year Jill and Michael,
Couldn’t get an email through on the TuckerBerry email I reached you on before. I hope 2011 brought you both much joy. After reading Living in a Foreign Language, which was my first Michael Tucker book (and my all time favorite read!) I picked up a copy of I Never Forget a Meal. I also enjoyed this book very much. For Christmas my girlfriend Paula had a special treat for me under our tree, she found a first edition hardcover of Living in a Foreign Language signed by you both. A wonderfully thoughtful gift from the love of my life. The state of the economy has once again put a delay on our travel plans to Italy but we continue to save and dream. It will just make it that much sweeter when we finally make it. I hope the offer of guiding us in is still an option when we finally make it. I want you to know that I am really looking forward to the release of Michaels new novel and have already pre-ordered it. Keep writing and I will keep reading. I also love your blog. Our Borders book store closed and was replaced by a small privately owned book store called the BookShack. They have a small stage and do readings, shows, poetry, and signings. Maybe if you are on the east coast you can pay our little town of Plymouth , Massachusetts a visit when the new book comes out you can visit and do a signing. I hope 2012 brings you both great success and happiness. Best Wishes.
Steve
Do you recommend any cooking classes while in Umbria? My mom gave me your latest book as a gift and after reading it. I just have to come to Umbria while I’m in Bologna for a month…I would love to take a cooking class while I’m there!
@ Francesca — try this site; they can help you find a cooking class:
http://www.conciergeinumbria.net
My husband and I have both read “Living In a Foreign Language” twice each!! I am ready to read it again. We will be visiting Umbria in 1 week. I have been trying to find by means of web search the location of the restaurant Da Beppio with the amazing anti pasta, and the prochetto truck that was you favorite. If you could give us the name of the streets and closes towns we would really appreciate it!! Thanks for the great reads!!!
We can’t wait to read you other books!
@ Maribeth – Da Beppino is actually called Le Casaline in Campello sul Clitunno. I changed the name in the book because it’s so close to our house — so don’t tell anybody! It’s on the road between Campello La Bianca and Campello Alto. You can’t miss it.
The porchetta truck moves around. It’s often parked on the Via Flaminia between Campello and Trevi. Good luck!
Thank you so much for sharing the location. I promise
we won’t stalk you!! :)
Maribeth
Hello, Michael and Jill,
We are russian couple living in Hamburg, Germany, very big fans of Umbria and particularly the area of Spoleto. Do you know your book has been translated in Russian? I presume you should know it, but in Russia, like in Italy: everything is possible :-)
Thank you for your book, which we are buying like a present to our friends because we would love make them to love Umbria as you and are in love in this peaceful and so beatiful part of the world.
Can not wait to fly over there again at the beginning of May… And even if we are not so good in cooking, but now, with our new kitchen we will definitely try one of your recipes , and opening bottle of really good Sagrantino will drink a glass to your health guys!
Warm regards,
Andrey and Julia ( your new neighbors)
@ Andrey and Julia — Hello neighbors! Welcome to our ex-pat community in Umbria.
Thank you! Looking forward one day to see each others. Our place is next to Gary Joe, I guess you know him. Arriving on May 4th ( just for a week unfortunately ), and can not wait to see the new garden, designed by Sophie. Ist took us three years to rebuild
( almost finished ) the house. I guess without your book we would not survive this process! :-) thank you again!
All the best, Andrey
Found Le Casaline and the porchetta truck! Thanks for sharing the locations!!! We are home now, and can see why you fell in love with Umbria!
Dear Steve
While looking for Uncalimed Property Ca I plugged your name in .
CA is holding 1000.00 bucks in residuals for you.
U can Google “Unclaimedr Property Ca” type in you name .I have the copies for you and I can fax them…
Jill has nothing unless that’s not her real name
I have 35.00 but small potatoes Saw Lew P last week Looks great
Best regards,
Herb
Am a risotto man myself
ofcource the saffron is 1800.00 per oz hahahahahah
Are you and Jill going to be in Umbria in June? We’ll be at the Borgho della Marmotta for a few days. Perhaps we will see you at Le Casaline.
Yes, we’re here. That sounds like fun.
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