A ‘not to be missed’ exhibition

Works by Il Perugino A major exhibition at the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria runs from 4th March to 11th June 2023

Following a major renovation programme the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria – the National Gallery of Umbria which sits in a very prominent position in the main Corso of Perugia finally re-opened in a much enlarged form last year.  I suggested, when in the city, to take time and visit the museum to many of my guests, all of whom returned to Bellaugello very enthusiastic about the experience.   I thought it about time I went myself, and finally got to visit earlier this week which fortunately coincided with a major exhibition of early works by the 15th century Umbrian painter Pietro di Cristoforo Vannucci from Castel della Pieve, known as “Il Perugino”.

Walk up the Corso, the principal street of Perugia, our regional capital and one quickly sees that this is a proud, strong and elegant city with centuries of history.  Elegant buildings follow elegant buildings, the stone white with dappled grey streaks, mullioned windows and heavy ancient doors lead up towards the Piazza IV Novembre, the large open space in front of the Duomo, which has in its centre the magnificent 13th century Fontana Maggiore, which decadently celebrates a strong water supply to the city.

The Duomo, or cathedral of San Lorenzo, is, like most in Umbria plain facade and took over two hundred years from laying the foundation stone to being consecrated.  But I digress, back to the gallery;

Walk through two heavy imposing doors into the inner courtyard, pass by the bronze Griffin and the Lion, symbols of the city that after centuries of living on the wall of the Sala dei Notari – the city chambers have now been retired.  Their places having been taken by more recent copies, and head left to the ticket office and inevitable gift shop.

The ticket, which includes the entire museum and the Il Perugino exhibition is good value at €10

Now the steady climb, past the council chambers, you are walking a broad staircase with well-worn marble steps.  Climb to the third floor, the signage is not the best, and you are greeted by different spaces, some light, some dark, hand over your ticket and enter the room which commences with paintings by contemporaries of Perugino.

...and on to the Perugino s

The exhibition is brilliantly curated by Marco Pierini and Veruska Picchiarelli and includes at the end a video display showing the skills and attention to detail and huge amount of work of some of the extensive team behind the exhibition.

A picture tells a thousand words, so here are a selection of  some of the paintings that hit my eye.

and This is the Man himself

So, many more paintings some from The National Galleries of UK France and Germany the exhibition continues.  

I all to briefly continued through the extensive galleries in the remainder of the museum, learning about paintings architecture and furniture.  A few pictures follow, and of course no blog post on paintings would be complete without a painting by a follower of Caravaggio.

detail of the Polyptych of Saint Anthony by Piero della Francesca
in the style of Caravaggio by Orazio Gentileschi - detail

The Perugino exhibition runs until 11th June, tickets including the entire gallery complex is €10.

To learn more:

 Click here for the website of the National Gallery of Umbria

When you leave, cross the Corso and head to Sandri, the most traditional café in Perugia, glorious painted ceiling, elegant staff, superb coffee and sublime cakes and exquisite homemade chocolates

Dawn breaks into sun..

How strange the weather can be, one moment hot hot sunshine and the next magical mist.  Here at Bellaugello Gay Country House we live in the most breath-takingly beautiful of valleys.  We look south commanding a huge view over the river Chiascio which meanders its way lazily towards the confluence with the river Tiber.

Our valley is peaceful, unspoilt, indeed so many of our guests return again and again to revel in the tranquillity and peace, they find a haven far away from the ‘madding crowd’.  Although not this morning I attach a photo taken recently as the mist which early morning dives low and then magically drifts skywards, a dawn of a new day bringing ever new surprises and joys, you can make out our infinity edge swimming pool already a brilliant azure in the morning light.

Sunlight filtering through the trees at Bellaugello Gay Country House in Umbria, Italy. #Bellaugello

Of course our infinity swimming pool enjoys the best of views,

Readying the pool - early morning at Bellaugello Gay Guest House in Umbria, Italy we swim overlooking the valley and way in the far far distance the Monte Sibylline the national park that is in the southern corner of Umbria and which borders the neighbouring region of Abruzzo,

Over the infinity pool at Bellaugello Gay Guest House in Umbria, looking towards the Monte Sibylline national parkthe national park is home to the famous Piano Grande that every July so generously gives of its tapestry of wild flowers

Piano Grande, Umbria, #Bellaugelloa trip well worth making in you can bear to tear yourselves away from the glorious poolside at Bellaugello 🙂

 

Fruit and more fruit

Michael has been busy collecting cherries, he has combed the lanes round Bellaugello Gay Country House selecting the ripest and juiciest cherries which he plucked.   Bags and bags of cherries have appeared in the kitchen we serve them for breakfasts and yesterday afternoon he was busy in the kitchen making cherry marmalade and a spicy cherry sauce, the latter from a recipe given to him by his grandmother.

Today the cherry jam was served on our homemade breads, and many compliments ensued.  I found myself in the garden cutting grass, it seems a never-ending task at the moment, the warmth and occasional shower rapidly brings on the growth.  Skirting around our fruit trees, I notice the figs are not far off being ripe and we have a decent crop of peaches, they may be small but they are looking really good.

Recent guests wrote and asked for my recipe for our home-made limoncello, so I sent it to them and feel now inclined to share the recipe with you.  This year’s limoncello is still not quite ready, we will have to wait until the middle of next month to sample its heady delight and fragrant perfume.  We now have cherries basking in the sunlight, slowly turning alcoholic, and are wondering what fruit will be next.

So here is my recipe for Limoncello.  You need to use the finest unwaxed lemons, I use the large knobbly ones from Amalfi, and of course you need time!

10 lemons – unwaxed preferably from Amalfi
1.2 kg sugar
1 & 1/2 litres of water
1 litre of plain alcohol we use 95% proof
Wash the lemons and remove the rind being extra careful not to cut into the white pith, chop the rind into small pieces.
Place into a clean preserving jar together with .75 l of the alcohol and leave in a cool dark place for 1 month, turn occasionally, I turn the jars when I pass by, curious to see the golden yellow colour becoming more intense.  The container must be hermetically sealed.
To the water add the sugar and gently stir whilst bringing to the boil.  Leave to cool.
Add the remaining quarter litre of alcohol and then combine with the lemon zest and alcohol mix.  Leave in a cool dark place for 40 more days.
Then Strain, filter and put in the freezer and enjoy! Cin Cin!

I love my Infinity Pool

 

A photo says it all.  Doesn’t really require words, and in future my choice of words will be more carefully scrutinised before clicking the ‘Publish’ button! (thanks P for alerting me to that slip-up)A beautiful back in the infinity pool at Bellaugello Gay Country  House, Umbria, Italy

What I would like to know is if I can put this photo on Facebook?  We are in disagreement over their policy guidelines re nudity, and I would hate to think of our f/b page going down.  What do you think?

All I know is that the infinity pool at Bellaugello Gay Country House, is such a beautiful place to enjoy and relax, and the views aren’t all that bad either!

 

I’m still here and so is the sun

No writing, no blogging of late, it seems I have been on strike, not true.  It is not that I have not hd anything to say, it is just that I have been demoralised, and felt rebellious and thought not to blog for a bit.

For the past six years blogging has been a significant part of my life here at Bellaugello Gay Guest House, recounting the stories of my daily life, the things an people I come into contact with, trials, tribulations, highs, lows and above all the odd rant or two.  So it is with a bit of arrogance I signed off for a few weeks.

I am now concerned that I have let my regular readers down.  At no time in my blogging history have there been such breaks, I usually post two or three times a week, people follow my jottings, and I am on  guilt trip that my readers have had nothing to laugh at, and Google might have overlooked me.

What you cannot over-look with out being amazed is the view over the infinity swimming pool at Bellaugello…The infinity pool at Bellaugello May 2015

Early this May morning the mist lingers in the Chiasco valley, small wisps break off and float lazily skywards, the water brilliant azure, the sky cloudless Infinity pool at Bellaugello Gay Guest House, Umbria

Tempting, very tempting….

over the infinity pool at Bellaugello Gay Country House, near Tuscany, Italy

Come join us, keep watching this space, I will be writing more soon

Getting ready for the race

Sunshine, comfort, a swimming pool crystal clear and waiting….  Bellaugello is waiting peacefully for next week and the “Festa dei Ceri” the traditional “Race of the Candles” held in our local town of Gubbio every 15 May

The flag of S Ubaldo the patron saint of Gubbio hanging in the gardens at Bellaugello Gay Guest House, Umbria, Italy

We are ready, are you?  There are still some suites available for next week, come join in the fun.  Grab a flight to our local airport of Perugia S Francesco di Assisi which are are aplenty.  Quote “ceri 2015” for a 10% discount on a stay that includes 15 May 2015.  Email us at: book@bellaugello.com

Hmmmm…. it’s been a bit of work in the making

Clearing through photos this morning at Bellaugello Gay Country House I came across this set which brought back memories of just how the house was and all the effort we put into restoring it to make what you see today.

The south elevation of Bellaugello 2009 – 2015 enjoy!

Let battle commence! demolish the lean-toBellaugello in 2009 before demolition of the illegal stallaMore progress, looking cleaner1Progress, we are definitely getting theretoday the south elevation and Giardino suite of Bellaugello gay Country House

It’s getting hot around here

I don’t know if I should be posting today because the boffins are working on migrating my jottings to the new look blog and website, I hope I am not upsetting them or destroying code!  We are getting so close, yes, I know I have said that for so long, but it is true, I can almost smell the newness of the Bellaugello Gay Country House Website like the soft delicate aroma of gently frying transparent onions, or the waft of the newly cut lawns, the caress of the lavender newly awoken from its slumber, or freshly baked bread just out of the oven, or the excitement of a first dip in our infinity pool, it is real exciting!

Very soon you will be able to book online with our new ‘book now’ facility and I will have a new look blog.

In the meantime for a bit of colour and local news I post a couple of picture of the amazing annual “Festa dei Ceri” held in our local town of Gubbio each 15th of May.

Festa dei Ceri, Gubbio the Alzata #BellaugelloGubbio festa dei ceri, #BellaugelloCeri Gubbio #BellaugelloCeri Gubbio #BellaugelloCeri Gubbio #Bellaugello

Come join in the fun, of course we all go and spend the day in this magnificent medieval town a stone’s throw from Bellaugello.  We still have a few luxury suites available including our luxury romantic duplex, the Giardino Suite.  email me at: book@bellaugello.com

 

Men in tights

If you are a guy who likes men in tights then you need to get your ticket booked to Umbria to be here for Saturday 25th. April.   Fly into our local airport of Perugia S Francesco di Assisi, we now have regular flights from Rome, Munich, Barcelona and London, book into Bellaugello Gay Country House where you will find luxurious suites, a huge garden and perfect peace in a beautiful setting and on the Saturday morning head to our local medieval town of Gubbio where in the spectacular setting of the elevated Piazza Grande there will be an exhibition of flag throwing as the huge bell in the campanile of the Palazzo dei Consoli is tolled by hand, or rather foot by a team the only membership being passed from father to son.

Gubbio, the most beautiful of medieval towns, Umbria, Italy #Bellaugello #Gay

Flags galore, Piazza Grande Gubbio, Umbria, Italy #Bellaugello

F;lag throwing in Gubbio, Umbria, #BellaugelloFlag throwing in Gubbio, Umbria, Italy, #BellaugelloFor whom the bell tolls, Gubbio, Umbria, Italy #BellaugelloSbandiere a Gubbio, Umbria, #Bellaugello

It is a truly magnificent event and a great taste of the delights to be found in this deliciously unspoilt corner of Europe and Bellaugello is the place to base your stay.