Rasiglia Umbria, June 16 2021

A day trip into Umbria

After a visit to Spello and a great lunch at Il Pinturicchio (a small inexpensive trattoria we stumbled into with great truffle carbonara, homemade pasta, and fantastic oven baked lamb) we headed for Rasiglia.  This is a small town that dates from the 13th century.  It likely sprang up where it did due to being situated near the ancient Via della Spina and accessible to fast flowing mountain streams.  The Via della Spina was a key Roman highway that helped connect the Adriatic coast to Rome.  As time went on and the road fell out of use, the town developed into a small industrial center that harnessed the force of the streams to power mills and textile machines.  The remains of the mills and the complex stream controls with gates and stone channels is still in place.  As you walk through its pristine and uncrowded streets you can hear the constant rush of the water, and feel a cool breeze that seems to run with the streams.  

A textile mill

This is truly a very peaceful place, a jewel well removed from the guide books.  The town is small, well kept, and has a park like feel. The residents seem to hope you’ll visit but aren’t trying to market it to tourists.  You leave your car at the base of the town and with a short stroll immediately find yourself surrounded by beautiful old stone buildings, bridges, and everywhere; more flowers.  Old photos decorate the town and give a great sense of the work that once supported it.  There aren’t many amenities, a restaurant above town looks inviting, but was closed during our visit. 

The old village wash basin feeding into a stream

Leaving Rasiglia we headed to a couple of nearby wineries in the Montefalco area, where the prized Montefalco Sangrantino wine can only be found.  After some tasting at the wineries, we stocked up and headed for home.