Ascoli Piceno III

Our bus took us 17k to Castel di Lama. Here Principessa Giulia Panichi Pignatelli hosted a cooking demonstration, personally guided us around the beautiful gardens- pointing out with enthusiasm many flourishing specimens including cycads and several fine Pawlonia trees, and then provided a wonderful lunch which we had witnessed in preparation. It seems that the Castel had recently been used as a luxury resort until severely damaged by an earthquake in 2016. Repairs have commenced but there is a long way to go.

After lunch a further 17km bus ride brought us to San Savino di Ripatransone for a wine tasting at Tenuti Cocci Grifoni.  In addition to their very good wines a procession of plates of food appeared culminating in large servings of an excellent dish of spiced green Italian Umbria lentils. This generous hospitality was verging on the overwhelming considering the fulsome lunch we had come from and a dinner in prospect that we had arranged with Marc our tour leader. We had a walk through the vineyard with harvest processing in full swing.

On return to our hotel we settled for light antipasti and a stroll back through the well lit town.