Five Days around northern Italy

Greetings from www.italybestsecrets.com - Christina and Giuseppe. First stop San Vendemiano and Azienda Agricola Furlan, producers of fine prosecco and table wines. This local winery has accommodation and a great degustation room for tastings of their wines and is located within 1 km from the Conegliano autostrada exit. Adami is the next winery located in Vidor, where we are welcomed by Enrico, who was in Perth a few months ago, to promote the Adami prosecco. We are offered a glass of the Extra Dry which is excellent. It's 5pm and we proceed to Cison di Valmarino and Castelbrando,a huge fortress on a hilltop, converted to a 4 star hotel and museum. The hotel has 47 rooms and 13 junior suites, and recently hosted the Agriculture Summit as part of the G8 meeting. We say goodbye to our family and hello to the Dolomite Alps. The weather is kind to us, and in particular the drive from Rocca Pietore to Val di Funes through Val Badia is spectacular, with deep ravines, mountain upon mountain in pastel shades, streams, and a flurry of alpine locations that host world winter sport events. Our destination is St. Magdalena and the SpeckFest (speck is a type of smoked pork smallgood, similar to prosciutto). It is a sunny warm day, and everything is very well organised from the car parking area to the festival ground with the various food and handicraft stands. Our speck panini are excellent (the panini is rye bread), as well as gnocchi made from semolina, deep fried like croquettes and served with raspberry coulis. We also eat tagliatelle with stag ragu, delicious strudel and warm chestnuts, all the while listening to live music. Accommodation in the whole valley is booked out, so we decide to leave early and head towards Chiusa. After 45 minutes of driving along winding mountain roads, we find a room at Villandro, just above Chiusa with a panorama of Novacella Abbey and the valley. To our surprise there is another festival in Chiusa, so we enjoy walking along the pedestrian mall listening to great live bands enjoying the local beer before having dinner in a traditional restaurant. We are seated in a huge wine barrel, and are warm and cosy in the candlelight. The next morning, Sunday 4 October, we leave along the A22 towards Modena, joining the A1 and the A14 for a short stretch. Of course we have to stop for lunch! - and arrive at Locanda della Luna at Balignano di Longiano, an excellent choice. We recommend this stop for the food as well as holiday lodging in their lovely rooms or apartment. Great panoramic views of the Adriatic coast in the distance, surrounded by ancient olive trees, from which they produce Extra Virgin Olive Oil, wines, conserves and liqueurs. A swimming pool will be installed soon. The owner is welcoming and talks to us for some time. Back in the car, we keep heading south, but have a quick stop at Locanda Gambero Rosso at Bagno di Romagna. Again, the owners are very welcoming and show us around their award winning locanda, and talk about their family history. They have visitors from Japan and all around the world, who come to enjoy their local cuisine. There is also an italian language school for foreigners. Finally we arrive back in Umbria, where the last couple of nights will be spent with family. We did find time to have a short visit to Spello, to view the magnificent artworks of Pinturicchio in the Santa Maria Maggiore Church, and visit the Agriturismo i Mandorli. This has an authentic olive mill museum, outdoor swimming pool and an almond tree in front of each apartment, giving the name Mandorli, meaning almonds. Our mileage has surpassed 4,300 kms! Tomorrow we drive to Rome Fiumicino Airport and leave our Fiat Punto with Hertz, and board our flight to Australia. Arrivederci to all our friends and family in Italy, and hopefully we have inspired our followers with ideas for an italian sojourn. Baci xx, Christina and Giuseppe.