Fabro, Ficulle and funghi lasagne

Today was probably our last chance to go for a drive so we looked at the map and chose a direction we haven't been this year - we headed towards Orvieto, but on the small roads. First stop was Fabro which we pass on the train from Rome, a village that advertises its only points of interest as the fortress and the church. The fortress was in excellent order and afforded stunning views all around. Actually the main interest around Fabro is the woodlands where there are good walking opportunities and also truffles and wild mushrooms can be found.

From there we went to Ficulle which also had as its attractions a fortress tower and a church. The tower only opens on the weekends but the church was open and there was our man of the day, Padre Pio.

We were particularly amused here as the church is called the New Church of St. Mary. Yep, its new, it was built in 1606! The old church still stands but is outside the walls.

There is one thing to be said for these hilltop fortress towns, you get plenty of exercise walking up steps. It is always necessary to park outside the walls and walk in or up to the historic centre.

Our last stop was Monteleone d' Orvieto where we called in for a drink at a bar we had visited last year. The young man running it speaks good English and is enthusiastic about Australia. He told us he watches Border Patrol!

The average non-Italian thinks that lasagne is a hearty meat dish with a couple of layers of pasta. In Italy you soon discover that this is far from the real thing. Many layers of soft pasta and thin layers of sauce make up a genuine lasagne.

Two years ago in Genoa we discovered pesto lasagne and so began a love affair with that variety. Tonight we have tasted an even more stunning variety - bosciaola lasagne. With fresh funghi mushrooms and truffles, this was another taste sensation. Interestingly we bought this at the local supermarket deli, and they had other varieties such as asparagus.

We need to stay longer so we can try all the other varieties!