On olive trees

Some years, now I guess decades ago the comune of Gubbio decided to “re-model” the piazza of S Giuseppe, known to many as the home of the church to Terence Hill – or “Don Matteo”.  They called in the architect Gae Aulenti a Milanese architect who radically modernised the space.  What had been a lowly market space, she remodelled into a trendy piazza with water feature and olive trees used in an architectural way.

Now, at Christmas time with the rainbow coloured lights I think this is a delightful space, however a dear friend of mine absolutely detests the use of trees in an architectural setting.  So since forever, apart from the two happy yew trees that I style in my garden, one as a cone which you can see in the first photo, and is much admired and commented on, the other on the way to the Jacuzzi terrace a pyramid, all be it a bit lop sided pyramid  I have avoided architectural plants.  

Until this spring.

Dear Greta Thunberg is so right, global warming is a terrifying tangible fact of life.

I have noted how my annual bedding plants do not bring summer colour, but really struggle in the hot sun.  Ten years ago I could fill pots with geraniums, surfinias, lobelia, pelargoniums.  They would cascade over th posts and down walls and onto lawns.  But over recent years no matter how much tender loving care and watering we give them, they just suffer.    It is unfair.

The cute olive trees were sitting in prime location in the garden centre and they had a ‘we want to come home with you’ label on them, so they did.  I planted them up and put them in the large urns on the main terrace.  I love the effect, they look great and they should love the heat, May is flowering time and they are generous in their flowers.  Maybe we can add their fruit to the olive harvest this autumn.  But there is one tiny problem, each time I look at them I think of my dear friend and wonder if she is looking askance.  Hmmm…

Buzzing

It is magical to pass by the bee hive and hear the loud buzzing of the bees as they come and go from their gaily painted pink home.  This morning I was out feeding the chickens and as I  passed by all was silent This afternoon coming g up from the Jacuzzi it was a ‘hive’ of activity.  There was a smattering of sun and having been exploring the cherry blossom and flowers on the rosemary the bees were happily buzzing too and fro.

My first Bee video!

Come taste the honey it is delicious.  You will find it on our breakfast table. Book your stay HERE 

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

vai gli sposi…

Huge celebration today as one of my neighbours and good friend Marco married Laura in the regal setting of the town hall in our local town of Gubbio under hot Italian sunshine.  Here are the happy couple descending the stairs moments before the traditional rice is thrown.

MARCO AND LAURA - JUST MARRIED IN GUBBIO

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

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

 

Overlooked

A glorious day here at Bellaugello Gay Country House, the sun shone brightly and temperatures reached 23˚c  the infinity swimming pool is glistening and beginning to heat up.  As I finished work we noticed Bobby casting a measured eye over the gardens and a photo was swiftly taken…

Bobby, surveying the gardens at Bellaugello Gay Guest House in Umbria, Italy. #BellaugelloI think the message was, “dad have you not finished yet, it really is time for a walk”.  So that is what we did!

Oh what a beautiful morning!

I am feeling guilty.  Not only do I live here at Bellaugello Gay Country House in one of the most beautiful corners of Europe, but also I have been a poor blogger of late.  So to make up for that I post a few photographs of what you are all missing this morning…

Monday morning at Bellaugello Gay Country House, Umbria, Italy, the gay resort in Europe,#BellaugelloMonday morning at Bellaugello Gay Country House, Umbria, Italy, the gay resort in Europe,#BellaugelloMonday morning at Bellaugello Gay Country House, Umbria, Italy, the gay resort in Europe,#BellaugelloMonday morning at Bellaugello Gay Country House, Umbria, Italy, the gay resort in Europe,#BellaugelloMonday morning at Bellaugello Gay Country House, Umbria, Italy, the gay resort in Europe, #BellaugelloI am off to work under the Umbrian sun, there is so much to do in the garden and we still have the olive trees to prune, I hardly know which way to turn, but don’t worry I will be back to blogging soon!

 

Introducing “M”

Saturday, picture day…

Times have been busy here at Bellaugello Gay Country House, but today we finally managed to stop and with the assistance of a table to balance the camera and the auto-timer we finally managed to take our picture…

hosts

I’m not one for posting personal items on my blog, but this is important, because this year, and for future years to come guests will be welcomed to Bellaugello Luxury Gay B&B not only by me but also by Michael, my partner.

I am looking forward to welcoming back many returning guests, and introducing them to Michael, and together we are looking forward to welcoming so many first time guests already booked this year.  So don’t hesitate and book whilst there are still Suites available!!