A witty and warm-hearted memoir of abandoning fast-paced American days in favor of discovering the Italian secrets of food, community, and life. Moving across the globe meant Michelle Damiani soon found herself untangling Italian customs, delighting in glorious regional cuisine (recipes included), and creating lasting friendships. From grandmothers eager to teach the ancient art of pasta making, to bakers tossing bread into fiery ovens with a song, to butchers extolling the benefits of pork fat, Il Bel Centro is rich with captivating characters and cultural insights. Throw in clinking glasses of Umbrian red with the local communists and a village all-nighter decorating the cobblestone streets with flower petals; as well as embarrassing language minefields and a serious summons to the mayor’s office, and you have all the ingredients for a spellbinding travel tale. Exquisitely observed, Il Bel Centro is an intimate celebration of small town Italy, as well as a thoughtful look at raising a family in a new culture and a fascinating story of finding a home. Ultimately though, this is a story about how travel can change you when you’re ready to let it. With laugh-out-loud situations and wanderlust-inspiring storytelling, Il Bel Centro is a joyous and life-affirming read that will have readers rushing to renew their passports. “This is one of the most beautiful book I’ve ever read.” “I absolutely couldn’t get enough of this book.” “This book made me want to pack my bags.” “I loved, loved this book. Fabulously written, engaging, and entertaining.” “A magical read.”

Produced in inimitable DK Eyewitness style, this new guide was written by Italians who have intimate insider knowledge of this delightful region. Umbria is broken down into Northern and Southern sections, and features such famous towns as Assisi and Orvieto, as well as the region's many wonderful and unspoiled national parks, art, and history. You'll find sights, markets, and festivals listed town by town, as well as walks, scenic routes, and thematic tours that will ensure you don't miss a thing. Illustrated food features highlight regional specialties and you'll find an impressive selection of restaurants and hotels. Whether you are visiting the stunning hill-town of Perugia or taking a lesson in art history at Assissi, capture the flavors of Umbria with the Eyewitness Travel Guide.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: the most maps, photography, and illustrations of any guide. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Umbria is your in-depth guide to the very best of Umbria. Make your trip to Umbria an unforgettable cultural experience with our Eyewitness Travel Guide. Explore unspoiled national parks; visit markets, shops, and festivals, or take scenic walking tours in this beautiful region. We have the best hotels for every budget, plus fantastic restaurants, bars, and clubs in every area. Whether you're a solitary traveler or a family exploring Umbria with kids, our DK Eyewitness Travel Guide has insider tips to make your trip memorable and extraordinary. Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Umbria Detailed itineraries and "don't miss" destination highlights at a glance. Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights. Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area. Area maps marked with sights. Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Umbria truly shows you Umbria as no one else can. Recommended: For an in-depth guidebook to Italy, check out DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Italy, which offers the most complete coverage of Italy, trip-planning itineraries, and more.

Whether you're looking to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Assisi, unwind by Lake Trasimeno or marvel at the cliffside city of Orvieto, this guide will help you choose things to do in Umbria to create the perfect trip. Follow carefully plotted itineraries around Perugia and Terni, learn about Umbria's wealth of art, and read up on central Italy's fascinating history. Insider tips, plus recommendations for the best and most authentic hotels and restaurants, will ensure you make the most of all this beautiful region has to offer. Packed with fantastic photographs, illustrations, and maps, plus detailed descriptions and useful advice, this guide will lead you to the best of Umbria. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Umbria truly shows you this city as no one else can.

Readers will delight in this tale of an urbanite who leaves her magazine job to move to Collelungo, Italy, population: 200. There, in the ancient city center of a historic Umbrian village, she sets up house with the enticing local gardener she met on vacation only weeks earlier. This impulsive decision launches an eye-opening series of misadventures when village life and romance turn out to be radically different from what she had imagined. Love lost with the gardener is found instead with Marcus, an abandoned English pointer that she rescues. With Marcus by her side, Justine discovers the bliss and hardship of living in the countryside: herding sheep, tending to wild horses, picking olives with her adopted Italian family, and trying her best to learn the regional dialect. The result is a rich, comic, and unconventional portrait about learning to live and love in the most unexpected ways.

Breads - Appetizers, snacks and condiments - Soups and pasta - Recipes with meat and fish - Vegetables and side dishes - Sweets.