So, normally, when through hiking, one is so focused on getting from point to point that one really doesn’t have a chance to really examine any given town in depth. By spending two days in Foligno, I had an opportunity to walk the Centro in depth which gave me the opportunity to make some observations that I normally do not get the opportunity to make.
First, not to be maudlin, but, damn, do I feel sorry for the guys in WWII that fought their way through Italy. It struck me as I was walking through the narrow, medieval streets.
Opening into palazzi with multi story buildings, which had to be a snipers dream and a soldier’s nightmare. Lord bless them all. Just had to take a moment to share.
On a lighter side, under the category of some things never change, I was amused when I came across the local car dealer had taken the opportunity to execute a popup show room at the edge of the festival.
It was a warm day, so I took an opportunity to take a seat, cool my heels and partake of one of the most popular mixed drinks in Italy, an Aperol Spritz.
And watch the world pass by.
I really wanted to try some risotto which was one of the primary reasons I came to this Festa. But I have to admit I was disappointed by the risotto village which ended up being on vendor in a square selling Aborrio rice. However there was a nice display of how to properly set a table for those interested.
So, I still really wanted some risotto which leads me to let you know that, when traveling, not every time ar bat is a hit. As I am walking up the main drag from the hotel back to the square, I walked past the Nutella crepe stand.
Now I am definitely not a Nutella fan (though I sampled the good stuff on this trek, more on that later) though not busy at this particular moment, this place had been jammed every time I passed it. I probably will never understand its appeal but different strokes for different folks.
Anyway, I digress. I should have been suspicious of a pizzeria offering risotto but damn it I wanted risotto prepared in Italy so I looked past the plastic cutlery and ordered the Festa tri speciali risotto with red wine, gnocchi with tomato sauce, and pasta bologna. I knew I was probably going to be disappointed when it arrived in less than 10 minutes and was served on a three compartment heavy paper plate. The pasta bolognese was passable and the sauce on the gnocchi was pretty good but the risotto looked like wallpaper paste with a similar texture and the flavor was nothing to write home about. Thus my quest continues.
I ambled back up to the square just to see what I could see,
and found an interesting sculpture.
In the lower left hand corner of the slab the was a glyph, you know those little squares of squiggles that one sees from time to time which provide further information if you point your phone at them. This one stated that this particular sculpture was in honor of the fact that the particular square t by at I was in was where St. Francis of Assisi decided to forgo his life as a cloth merchant and dedicate his life to God and ultimately, though not his intent by any means, becoming the patron Saint of Italy. Who knew?
On my way back to the hotel I took one last shot of something else that was extremely popular at the festival. Fresh prosciutto ham sliced off the bone. Se real restaurants had this available and one simply told the person how. Ugh and they used what looked like a fileting knife to slice razor thin slices that were served either alone or with cheese and of course wonderful fresh baked crusty bread.
The trip to Foligno was fun but the ultimate goal of my trip, to find authentic risotto remains unrealized. On to the origini di casa Scudere (Scudieri), the region of Abruzzo. Ciao!
Lou Hikes? 