Corpus Domini

Two weeks after Ascension day, is the Corpus Domini festival, a World-wire Catholic celebration, that was first created in Orvieto. During Corpus Domini, there is a parade through Orvieto, which includes almost 1,000 people dressed in medieval costumes. The parade celebrates the Miracle of Bolsena, which happened in the 1200's, in Bolsena not far from Orvieto. A priest whose faith was wavering, was looking for a sign from God of his existence. While performing mass, as he broke the host, Christ's blood spilled from it, onto a cloth below. This reinforced the priests faith, and is now known as the Miracle of Bolsena. This cloth - named "Corporale" and is on display in the Orvieto Duomo. The priest and the whole Bolsena community took a journey to bring the Corporale to Orvieto, where the Pope was in those days.

It was extremely hot that day, close to 100, and most of the costumes are made of velvet. Some people are dressed in armor and carrying heavy axes, or cross bows. The parade starts with each of the quarters of Orvieto: we live in Corsica, so of course it's the best! The parade ends with the Corporale carried by priests. The whole town celebrates, and there were a lot of tourists around. It's a great day to experience a unique Italian festival. Ours included a large lunch at David's parents house, following the parade.

A Corsica flag on our street

Piazza XXIX Marzo

Corso Cavour the main street in Orvieto

David's parents Corsica flags

Torre del Moro (Clock Tower)

Fabio il tamburino

Nobleman 

Capitano del Popolo 

Corsica section of the parade

Medieval guild flags

Emilio, Fabio's brother

Our friend Alberto

Peasants

Il Corporale

La Carrozza d'Oro

A few weekends ago Svedonio invited us to dinner at La Carrozza d'Oro, where his friend Giuseppina was just hired as the new head chef. The restaurant/hotel is on Bolsena Lake in Montefiascone. They have a large outdoor porch with a great view of the lake.

Giuseppina's specialty is fish, any kind of fish. I like fish, but not all fish, so I was not sure what to expect, but I was ready to try anything that was put in front of me. We didn't order off the menu, she just brought us what she thought we would like, and it was amazing!!!

The antipasto was octopus, but at first I thought is was some kind of salami, because of how it looked. It was cooked, then shaped like and oval and sliced thin, topped with just a little olive oil and lemon zest. It was very delicate, and tasty. The primi piatti was fettuccine with sea bass, cherry tomatoes and basil. This was also fantastic, so fresh, and the flavors worked very well together. Of course we had to get dessert too! We shared tiramisu and panna cotta, both were out of this world!

Bolsena Lake

Guiseppina's dog Perla

Sunset

Svedonio, Alessandra & me

Octopus

Fettuccine with sea bass, tomatoes and basil

Tiramisu

Panna Cotta

Gole del Forello

It has been very hot lately, average about 95 during the day. At first I thought maybe it was a heat wave, but now I know this is just how the summer is here. Luckily I love the heat! Italy doesn't have air conditioning in every store, restaurant and most houses the way that we do in American. So to keep cool most people go to the beach, pool or lake.

A few weekends ago we went to a pool, about 15 minutes from here on the Corbara Lake, with Daniela (David's sister) and her fiancé Juri. The pool is part of a sports complex (Gole del Forello) owned by some of David's friends. They have tennis courts, a soccer field, volley ball court, food stand, camping and the pool. The scenery is beautiful, hills filled with olive groves, vineyards and sunflower fields. The land is very fertile there, Barberani's vineyards are around the lake. People don't really swim in this particular lake, but they do fish there.

We had a lot of fun, and the water was very refreshing! We brought a picnic lunch, and David got marasche cherries from a friend, so I got to try those for the first time.

Lago Corbara

Soccer field

Vineyards

Pool

Marasche cherries