The Great Truffle Hunt Saga, Part I - Citerna

I've decided I'm going to split up the "big hunt" day into three categories: The medieval hill town of Citerna, the hunt (which will include flora and one fauna),  and the Tartufi Bianconi "factory", kitchen, cooking and, sadly no eating because my battery went dead!!  And Jane and Betty Lou were just as bad off - I think it was Jane who forgot to put her newly charged battery IN her camera, and Betty Lou's card either got full during the day or her batteries went dead.  So between the three of us, no finished food.

CITERNA - A Beautiful Place to Live

Yes, we all decided that we could easily live here and be quite happy.  Citerna is yet another medieval hill town, very ancient buildings, etc., but it's sort of like the little town that time forgot.  It is very, very untouristy, but that doesn't mean it's run down or poor or anything.  It's a little jewel is what it is - some very nice little shops that don't scream at you, all the upper stories of most of the old buildings are mainly residential and so, of course, there are lots of flowers up high, down low, just pretty and Italian.

Cecelia (she was our interpreter, provided by Tartufi Bianconi, the truffle hunt group)  took us all through the town explaining everything very thoroughly but, not having anything to take shorthand with (!), I'm afraid I didn't retain any of it.  But I would definitely put Citerna on my list of places I'd like to see again and maybe just spend an entire lazy day there.  And just a little more about Cecelia (pronounced in Italian as Chee-chee-ya) - she had to be no more than in her early twenties, was no bigger than a minute, had a very good command of the English language while still speaking it with a delightful Italian accent, and was just cute as a button.  It was obvious she is very proud of her area of Umbria and has started her own business which provides "programs" for visitors to Italy that are really great sounding. I had her web address but can't find it right now.  However, if anyone ever reads this and wants to know how to get in touch with her :), e-mail me, because I will get it at some point - I want to have it for future reference!

And now... Citerna

We arrive outside the ancient walls...

Just a pretty window...

Their tiny, and I believe only, church...

This was a well at one point in the town's history, now it's a great big planter!

I almost missed this statue, hidden away at the corner of a "ruin"

The interior of the church, kind of out of order

I know Cecelia told us about this ancient theater but I don't know what she told us!

I like stairways...

Bella, bella

The well is their symbol because the name Citerna is from the Latin root for well or cistern

And there's Cecelia down underground where they are excavating portions of the village's original cistern system

This was over a local artist's door - Cecelia was going to take us in, but he wasn't home.

So, a lovely village, right?  If I decide to live there, you can all come visit! :)