Baratti - Week End to the Seaside

2-3 March 2013

It’s early morning and the sun is shining, we prepare our luggage and the babies and we’re ready to leave for Baratti for the whole weekend.

As we already know this area we go diretly to the “parco Archeologico “ parking,  you can park here and you have the entry either to the park and to the beach.

It’s almost lunch time and we stop to Canessa restaurant with an excellent view on the seaside, but unfortunately food quality is not good as it was in past; we spent the rest of the afternoon walking and playing along the beach and then we move to San Vincenzo.

There’s only a parking area for camper and we stay there for the night, together with other 12/15 campers. (free parking in winter time, not near to the seaside but very easy to reach).

 

Sunday morning we drive to Baratti, we easly park there and we enjoy the Park and the sea.

We have lunch at the park where we slept (in the meantimed additional vehicles arived..and even a caravan!) and we reserve the afternoon for a long wal between the pine-forest and the beach.

NB:  All parking zones are free in winter time and until April then they could be expensive and crowdy; same conditions for the San Vincenzo parking area, in summer youhave to pay and it’s even a sunny area. For these reason we suggest this visit during sunny winter weekends.

Beauty of place : 6
Distance : 7
Catering : 5
Accessibility children : 8
Ease of parking : 5
Total cost :6

Overall assessment : 6,1 (37 su 60)

Spello, Assisi, Bevagna and Montefalco

Friday 16/11/12
Finish ed work and made the final preparations we are ready to go, we take the Calenzano motorway which are just 18, direction Umbria.
Blame a little traffic, we come to our first destination, Spello, which are already 21.
The site is well signposted and is located a few hundred metres from the centre, close to the sports ground (coin-operated parking meter, 8 euro for 24 hours, minimum payment 5 euro) time to dine and settle down for the night and everyone in bed.

Saturday 17/11/12
The night was cold, but a good stove and quiet allowed us to rest. To get to the centre need to travel a short distance uphill.
Spello appears immediately in its beauty, medieval streets and alleys lead us through the ancient stone buildings, offering an enchanting panorama that has inspired an artist like Norberto Proietti. Visit the Gallery of the artist in via Cavour and continue the tour, noting, however, that many businesses are closed and that, in general, Spello doesn't shine for vitality, however, does not mean that the visit is less palatable, but we intend to go back on the occasion of the infiorata, the competition of flowered balconies typical of the country, that normally takes place in early June (next should take place on the first weekend of June 2013)

After lunching in camper we move in Assisi, the parking here is more complicated: after countless laps, continually blocked by access restrictions for motorhomes, we find a  parking. The fare is not cheap (2 euro for hour) but mostly we realize not just neighbors. We park too and ask directions, in fact there is no signage for the centre and the bar, which should also work as a cashier, is currently closed. Luckily the people we meet are very polite, which will be repeated everywhere, and the way we are moving. Here the path is decidedly uphill and having to push the stroller doesn't help. Huffing and pushing come on top and we must now admit that despite the effort is worth it: Assisi is truly magnificent. In every corner there is the link that this city has with its saint well with its origins. Maybe you see even the most travel propensity, but never so heavy and without absolutely charm penetrate a bit mystical. The short day of early winter we just a little when turning, but also gives us spectacular views that you are unlikely to forget.

Back to the camper and, after paying our contribution to the parking machine (the bar continues to be inexplicably closed), we move to the night in Bevagna. The staging area is well-marked, peaceful and free.
 The country and really close and, after having dined on sliced pizza base, we are going to spend the second night in Umbria.

Sunday 18/11/12
 A dense rain accompanied us throughout the night, but fortunately the morning we reserve a time forgiving and good, now, we are going to visit Bevagna. The country is very beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful for now, will be smaller than in Assisi, or maybe the continuous flow of people, maybe the two wonderful squares, but we immediately fascinated. Despite being Sunday, most of the shops are open, people are really helpful and we stop several times to talk with people we meet. "Angiolino 'o pustino" tells us that the best time to visit the village is the end of June, for the market of the Gaite, medieval event involving the entire Bevagna, so we have a good excuse to go back.
 We stop for lunch at Osteria Scottadito. Perhaps for the season but the Club is full and we serve with diligence, homemade pasta and a spectacular cut, pity that the choice of the house wine was equally apt.
 Back to the camper to relocate in Montefalco. There aren't many kilometres and landscape and really spectacular: the vines that turn to red colour the hills that surround us and almost sorry when we arrive.

  We leave the medium into the staging area at the foot of the town, free of charge but with a steep access. Montefalco is probably what keeps most of all the characteristics of the medieval: narrow cobblestone streets, steep slopes and stairways everywhere. Not that this isn't appealing, but try to move with the stroller is truly daunting. Will this or a bit of tiredness but after little more than an hour we decide to get back on the road to home.

Conclusions
 The route that we did not quite linear, we made choices based on the areas where we would sleep.
 Maybe it's not the best time to visit these areas, but even so we enjoyed the beauty of a region that welcomed us with its bold flavors but cordial. In case we reported, together with a good bottle of Sagrantino, a great desire to leave again

Beauty of place : 9
Distance : 8
Catering : 8
Accessibility children : 6
Ease of parking : 8
Total cost : 8

Overall assessment : 7.83 (47/60)

Civita di Bagnoregio and its surroundings

Friday, 26/10/12
We leave Friday afternoon from Sesto. The group is complete two campers, a mythical Adria Coral 670D of 7 seats and the new entry Mc Louis 360. Four adults and three children and half are participants.
The arrival in Bagnoregio originally planned for the 18 is actually delayed by an hour.
The stop is planned at the Camper parking just outside the village (€ 10 day tickets you buy at the store souvernir), because is late we explore the pizzeria a few meters of the squadre to arrange fast dinner.
The children are tired and go to bed shortly so we spent the time remains to plan the next day. The idea is to reach Civita di Bagnoregio walk through the village of Bagnoregio, the distance of about 2 km it's all downhill, for return we assume the use of the local bus.

Saturday, 27/10/12
We wake up and the air is already hot for the autumn and invites us to get out quickly and start our walk with the "trust" Pepe in front of us.
The town of Bagnoregio is a typical village of Lazio (southern Tuscany - Umbria external), Medieval and pleasant to go even if it has no special attractions.
The show, however, it’s only a few minute delay. The panoramic route to Civita di Bagnoregio is absolutely unique! A valley in the background and a small peak at the center of which hangs the "dying town", one image favored by splendid day to be immortalized!
The bridge, off a little more than a small tractor is the only access to the town, the motor is half of the few households (about 10), but I guarantee that the slope of the last part is really challenging.
Arrived at the village we stop immediately in the square for a cold beer and a toast. The country is small and in the short turn, among the things to report I want to emphasize the views of the valley.
We come back to the camper for lunch without the aid of the van, but enjoying the walk again made the first leg.

  Quick lunch in the camper and define the next goal. After a quick consultation to decide village near Pitigliano, Sovana.
Our route follows the hill of the country until lake of Bolsena,where, fascinated by the sunset and the sign that shows the presence of a fest, we decide  to stay overnight.
The car parking is a parking 24H not so far of the lake  (10 € per day but need to get the coins because they do not accecpt bills) the distance from the center is about a mile away. Then we reach the main road and travel together to a local band.
The evening starts to get dark and we return to the camper not before a taste of fried food in the local store.
The day ends with dinner all together in our camper and planning the next day. We will use the morning for a walk along the lake and then we will reach Sovana.

Sunday, 28/10/12
The lakeside promenade starts with a good breakfast at a choice of cafes, so we reach the dock of the local marina and spend a few minutes enjoying the relatively cool air blowing slightly to clean the lake.
We return to the Caravan and continue to Sovana. The route is about an hour across the Tuscan countryside, very funny for the drivers.

 

-->In Sovana parking is free and can be an excellent place to stop also in the night. The village is small, well maintained and very Charmful.
The Cathedral brings us back to the Knights Templar, his simplicity, silence and the mighty structure of the columns you back in the past. The village is rich of well-maintained buildings and a lot a place to eat. We decide to taste the flavors of the area in “Vino al Vino” (Wine to Wine)
We complete the visit to the ruins of the palace / castle of the Lord of the place and then move (in 10 minutes) in Pitigliano.



 

Here a stop was complicated (Camper parking is far and does not allow access on foot to the old town), we use a wide road to park vehicles and reach the center. Also in this case the view of Borgo from outside the walls is absolutely unique, but the path in the center is not at the same height. Maybe it is because fatigue or to have arrived here after a visit to Sovana, but I'm not hitting.
 
We return then to the camper and in two hours we return to Florence tired, but very pleased with our itinerary.

Considerations
The destination is perfect for two / three days of complete relaxation. The distances are short, all the villages (with the exception of Pitigliano) are accessible even with children and provide easy parking and restaurant.

Beauty of places: 9
Distance: 8
Catering: 9
Accessibility children: 8
Ease of parking: 7
Total cost: 8

overall assessment : 8.16 (49/60)