April 3, 2016 – To Orvieto by way of Todi

Looking about for something to do on the way to Orvieto, we find the hill town of Todi. According to legend, Todi was founded by Hercules. Historically,Todi was founded by the ancient Umbrian people, in the 8th-7th century BC and became a Roman town in 217 B.C.

We head up the hill to Todi and when we cannot go any further without getting a ticket for driving in a special zone, we stop and take a look at Santa Maria della Consolazione. But it turns out to be a 16th century church which is a little too modern for us.

Santa Maria della Consolazione, Todi
Santa Maria della Consolazione, Todi

There is a path up to the main part of the old city which is too steep for me to attempt today. I seem to have tweaked something in my bad knee and I am hurting with every step. I am consigned to sit in the car while John and Sarah climb the hill up to the old city. They see the old church of San Fortunatus which is ancient looking on the outside but redone on the inside.

Stairs in Todi
Stairs in Todi

While we were in Assisi Sarah had a great white wine made from the Grecchetto grape. The producer of this wine, the winery Roccafiore, is nearby to Todi. While we can’t go to the tasting room because it is closed on Sunday, we can go to their restaurant for lunch. After only one false start we find it in the rural area east of Todi.

It’s a beautiful setting and the restaurant serves really fine food at a reasonable price. We decide to make lunch our main meal of the day.

 

Happy Sarah and John
Happy Sarah and John

Afterwards we take pictures of Todi from the restaurant’s beautiful setting.

The hill town of Todi in the distance
The hill town of Todi in the distance

We head to our next stop, the resort Misia, just outside Orvieto. I get some ice packs from the innkeeper for my knee which is quite swollen and sore. We decide to skip dinner and have an early night although Sarah does some exploring around the tiny town. After all, there are cats to be petted and a giant bluff behind the hotel complex to be climbed. John and I are climbed out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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