Friday 23rd May

Jane & I had a latish start after putting out the washing & decided to drive into Perugia as a dummy run for returning the car tomorrow. Jane spotted an alternative route which we took but it turned out to be a dud as it took us to the wrong side of the town & we got totally lost before eventually finding ourselves literally on the wrong side of the track. We walked over to the station & tried to convert our booking into tickets for tomorrow on a machine but without any luck. Eventually we joined a queue at the booking office & although we were only 3rd in the line we waited 45 mins to have our tickets issued.

After a well earned coffee we set off for Spello another walled town overlooking the valley but unfortunately we missed a freeway turning & ended on the wrong route. As luck would have it we passed a small walled village of Ripa on a back road & it was quite a little gem. It had 2 gateways & the on opposite sides about 500m apart & the outer houses were built into the wall with a concentric alley with houses on both faces & a small square in the centre but no shops which were on the street leading to the walled areas.

On we drove to Spello which is a remarkable walled town with wonderful mediaeval buildings & narrow alleys climbing up to some big convents at the top. The place was nearly deserted as apparently the tourists are staying away in droves at present. Only one church was open but it had a couple of great altarpieces. An ancient monk was looking after the place & he tried to explain in Italian some of the finer points of the church.

Leaving Spello we returned to Ponte Felcino to time the run into the station at Perugia. Although they are only about 7km apart the route to the station is about 15km via a fairly complex system of junctions which are a nightmare to navigate. From there we returned for the last time to our home on the hill. Luckily Dick's knees were very easy on him & so he just arrived back stiff but not in pain.