I usually reserve restaurant reviews for TripAdvisor.com (username:crawfz), but I do recall a
memorable lunch in 1976, which was so good I thought you might like to try this place next time you’re in Italy.
A few years ago, driving our cute Fiat Bravo, we toured the walled city of Orvieto, about
two hours north of Rome and just a few minutes west from the A1 autostrada.
Orvieto |
The
city is in a fabulous location with commanding views of the Umbrian countryside,
but it’s tiny, and a full tour will take no more than an hour.
Descending to the plain below, you drive
back along the Via del Sette Martiri towards the A1, then hang a right onto
Strada Bagnorese, and then go a couple of kilometres west, and left onto the
Strada Provinciale 111, until you come to the beautiful La Badia Ristorante and
Abbey.
The original abbey was built in the 6th
century, but time and decay saw it crumble, and a replacement was built in the
12th century.
For almost 300 years the Badia di Orvieto belonged to
the noble Umbrian family descending from Saint Claire of Assisi, the Counts
Fiumi di Sterpeto.
It was acquired privately in the 1960s and
a full restoration of the house and the abbey was begun. It’s now a luxurious
four-star hotel, and the restaurant still gets rave reviews.
I can’t remember the details of the 1976 menu,
but the meal was sensational accompanied by crisp white Orvieto Classico
wine.
Ristorante La Badia |
I do remember being told by our host to
hurry up and finish the lunch, as we had a two-hour drive ahead to Firenze, and
if we weren’t sharpish, we’d be late for dinner!
Ah, the Italians certainly
have their priorities right.
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