It’s Saturday
morning in Viterbo. I have a list of
things to do today so I get going early.
This is just a report on what I did BEFORE 11 am. Yes, before 11 am.
I wanted to do a
sketch of the piazza and Chiesa del Gesu.
I am there at 8am and they are cleaning and preparing the outside tables
for customers who want to sit outside with their caffe and enjoy the ‘fighter
jet’ swallows. I am interested in the Chiesa
del Gesu because of its connection to Dante’s Inferno. On March 31, 1271, a
horrific crime happened in the church.
Two French noblemen, Guido and Simone di Monfort took revenge for the
murder of their father by killing Henry of Cornwall (cousin to the English
king) during mass. Yes, during
mass. Dreadful business. Such a crime, committed as Dante puts it ‘in
the arms of God’, gets Guido placed in hell with those who have committed
similar acts of violence.
Here I am sketching
the Chiesa and the fountain in front of it:
After this I walk
to the Piazza del Plebiscito and go into Forno Fiora, a bakery that is magnifico and multo buono. I grab a loaf
of bread made of durum wheat (panne duro)
and a heavenly little loaf that is topped with tomatoes, olives and an
anchovy. Then I take it home…. And eat
it…. WITH a glass of wine. And it’s 9:40
am.
Sure, I’d love to
be thin. Thin and gorgeous. Thin, thin.
But you know what is more important than being a size 6? Eating this:
Now, I must be off
to the open air market up by Piazza San Faustino. The market features local produce and meats
and cheeses. It also features this fabuloso prosciutto man…..
And local pecorino,
as I am making cacio e pepe (pasta
with cheese and pepper) this evening.
AND fragole of the GODS!
OH! And how I wish I could drive all these goodies
back to my apartmento in this little Fiat.
This is the most perfect car IN THE WORLD!!
What an adorable car! Elizabeth, how did I not know you were an artist? More bricks!
ReplyDelete