Our garden is particularly beautiful these days.

Aurora - the "dawn" - and Amira - the "princess" - enjoy it to the fullest.
It is - like the garden of the Villa from the Decameron - a little paradise.

But sometimes they feel a bit “stuck in paradise”.
Aurora tells you about it.

And Amira presents you a new recipe:
A carpaccio with oranges and fennel - as colorful and fresh as spring!

Easter is just around the corner, but this time without the traditional feast with family, friends and guests of our agriturismo.
But there is a delicious and very simple pasta recipe from Amira`s vegetarian cuisine, of course inspired by Mamma Ornella.
These are the little joys that will keep us going for the next few weeks of curfew - in Italy until May 3rd!

We are starting our fourth week of quarantine today and we feel so priviledged to be healthy and to live in a remote place in the countryside.
But the continuing tragedies with losses in so many families in Italy and the whole world make it hard also for us to keep spirits up.

Therefore cooking and eating together is an important part of our everyday life in the "Decameron". We try to preserve this "momento conviviale" (the moment of being together) which is so wonderfully important in Italy.
It is helping us and hopefully many other families in our country in these difficult times.

Our chef is Amira, who also takes care of our vegetable garden. Today she presents a traditional risotto recipe - with radicchio.

Two days ago my mom brought us some nice photos when she had to go to Passignano to the pharmacy.

This is the church tower of San Vito, which was already used as a lighthouse for boatmen on Lake Trasimeno before the christianization.

A lighthouse is always a sign of hope in the dark and in stormy times!

How do we get through? Read on!