Pozzo di San Patrizio

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Michelle LogueMay 17, 2021

Arriving in Orvieto via funicular, you pop out adjacent to one of the top attractions in town, Pozzo di San Patrizio, or, St. Patrick’s Well. Before heading inside, head over to the edge and take in the spectacular view of the Orvieto Valley.

view of the valley

entrance to St. Patrick’s Well

The well was built in the 16th century at the request of Pope Clement VII, who had taken refuge in Orvieto. Cleverly designed with two ramps of 248 steps each, the ramps were built one over the other creating a double helix. The ramps are wide enough for man and mule to walk down one and up the other, so traffic flows smoothly. A bridge at the bottom connects the two ramps.

Photo courtesy of umbriatourism.it

Meant to provide water year-round and if Orvieto was under siege, the water still flows today from a natural spring, aided by a nearby stream that drains off any excess water. This way the bridge is always accessible.

bridge at the bottom which connects the two ramps

St. Patrick’s Well is 62 metres deep and is naturally lit from 72 windows and a skylight.

72 windows provide natural light

skylight at the top adds a bit of light

If you like to climb, a visit to St. Patrick’s Well is the perfect spot!

If you’d like to learn more about Orvieto, check out these other posts:

The View from Here

Discover Orvieto

Michelle Logue leads cultural and creative adventures in Orvieto, Italy. With a mandate to provide "travel that transforms", Adventures in Italy gives guests an immersive experience. After more than 15 years of return trips, Orvieto has become a welcoming home base surpassing the typical Italian vacation.

Adventures in Italy operates trips in May and September, with two options: Artistic Enrichment nurtures creative expression, while Discover Orvieto invites visitors to focus on the history and culture of Orvieto and live as locals. Find out more about tours and special offers by following Adventures in Italy on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and visit www.adventuresinitaly.ca

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

The Gift of Time in Southwest France

Posted on May 9, 2021 by Sue AranMay 10, 2021

Last year time slowed down to a standstill. Most people hovered in an existential realm, somewhere between hope and despair. We are just now beginning to find our footing again, thanks to biomedical scientists, doctors, nurses, and essential workers. There is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. The return of international travel has already begun with many countries taking small steps forward. This compulsory pause has given us the gift of time to consider how we can travel more intentionally, wherever we choose to go.

Slow travel consecrates time, the most precious commodity we have. The slow traveler dips into another culture, out of ordinary time, and into extraordinary time, a time that does not break the day into rushed hours, fast food lunch breaks, or the last tour bus back to the hotel.. When you travel slowly you pass into another dimension where time is neither saved nor wasted, but spent mindfully.

The enjoyment of slow travel is the wellspring of all that makes life livable, reminding us about what’s truly important. Though it’s a cliché, when we slow down to smell the roses, we are happier and appreciate more fully, the good things in life.

I’ve learned that whether we travel across the world or walk from one side of the street to the other, we all seek refreshment and connection. My slow travel philosophy is simple: do less, experience more. When you take the time to experience the local history, culture and cuisine of a country, you discover more than just the sights – you discover that travel can be enriching and transformative in subtle and unimagined ways.

Bienvenue à French Country Adventures

Sue Aran lives in the Gers department of southwest France. She is the owner of French Country Adventures, which provides private, personally-guided, small-group, slow travel tours into Gascony, the Pays Basque, Provence and beyond. She writes a monthly blog about her life in France and is a contributor to Bonjour Paris and France Today magazines.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.

Il Grande Progetto “The Big Project”

Posted on May 2, 2021 by George and Linda MeyersMay 3, 2021

There is something exciting about seeing La Chiusa come back to life. This year we are seeing amazing things happen all over the property. Who knew we had rose bushes in crazy places, wild rosemary bushes the size of cars, wild life, olive trees that are over 200 years old, secret rooms and we even have a resident ghost (maybe 2)! It amazes us that once we started showing love for the land and caring for the property things came to life!

This new life started us thinking about ways to continue to bring La Chiusa back to its former self. We wanted everyone to experience the same excitement and feelings we were having as we watched the old olive oil farm come back to its former glory.

There are too many tasks to name them all, but we are starting with these in the hope that La Chiusa will continue to show us the way.

Olive Tree Adoption Program, renewal of fruit trees, enlarging the gardens (in its original site), restoring the old stone walls and terraces, increasing our bee population and restoring the building bit by bit.

This is not a small project but we are up to the task and we hope you can join us on this journey!

Our mission:

A place with good wine, delicious olive oil and a community kitchen full of good food to share with great friends.

Olive Tree Restoration and Adoption

The olive groves at La Chiusa have not been cared for in over 40 years and are slowly deteriorating from vines, pests and no love! The first year we were here we trimmed and care for over 100 trees (this is a very slow process) and we are slowly working towards bringing these beautiful fruit baring trees back to life and production. Some of these trees are over 200 years old!

Be a Tuscan Olive Farmer

Adopt an olive tree from the La Chiusa grove for one year. In return, we will send you some of the purest, most delicious Olive Oil produced in Italy.

And while your adoption does not mean you are purchasing (or owning) a physical tree, your contribution will be immediately put to use to restore and care for your tree.

Words to Live By:

“Essere buono come il pane”

“Be as good as Bread”

Where we have been & where we are headed

Its nice to be in Montefollonico and are waiting on the summer arrivals of family and friends.

Cook in Sicily is at the top on the list as soon as we get a minute! While Covid has slowed us down a bit, we are still planning on visiting Sicily, France, Greece and Malta this summer! Fingers are crossed.

George and Linda Meyers own and operate Cook in Tuscany, a cooking school in Tuscany, Italy.

Cook in Tuscany is a six-night all-inclusive Tuscan experience based in the village of Montefioralle that includes daily cooking lessons with local women, daily excursions, winery tours, cheese making, gourmet dinners, and tours of local and historic sites. Cook in Tuscany is a luxury culinary vacation for the traveler who wants to be a local and not a tourist.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.