Sansepolcro and herbs

It is hard to believe this is the fifth visit to our Italian family at LaMaesta, and each time we explore some of our favourites and also visit suggestions of new places. Today was Sansepolcro (Pronounced: Sans-sey-pol-cro), a town about 60 minutes drive away on the eastern edge of Tuscany.

On arrival the first stop was the tourist information centre, first to get information about the town and what we should see and also to use the toilet facilities. Public toilets like we have in Australia are few and far between, you usually need to search and use facilities at a bar, restaurant or, in this case, the TI. 

From there, we were provided with info and maps of the place and we went to our first attraction Museo Della vetrata where in the old church we were presented with a collection of stained and painted glass that has been collected and restored. 

It was interesting to learn about the techniques and how they have evolved. 

The last supper

I would like to add Italy is not all about history. Many are moving forward with alternative lifestyles, and it is good to see people 'breaking' the mould and showing individuality. This car was parked close to the previous museum in the historic centre. 

It was getting close to lunch, so we headed back into the centre, walked the length of Via XX Settembre, and looked through the various shops, most still presenting Christmas decorations and Christmas items for sale. Lunch was then at a small little bar where we had Polpette (meatballs), Katies in a Pomodoro (Tomato) sauce and mine in Balsamic and Honey sauce. They were amazing, so good we forgot to get a photo! We also had some small bread, about 10 mm thick and 100 mm round, like little sandwiches. Mine had mortadella mousse with pistachio and Katie's contained prosciutto with a buratta cheese. Again, amazing. 

This town has many churches, and there is never a reason not to enter.  It is a place to sit down, relax and view the art adorning the walls in a location that the artist intended. Something else that is a treat at this time of year is all churches have Presepio (Nativity Scene).  Here is a video of the largest we have seen, with night and day scenes. The video is dark at the start but will quickly transition to the daylight scene. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cyqGivhXiGTnSF1y8

Finally, we attended the Aboca Museum, dedicated to herbs and traditional medicine. It was a very informative place, explaining how we have used natural products for centuries and now how we still use them in current-day treatments. Well worth a visit.

The aroma of the dried herbs was amazing in this room

The ground floor had an interactive exhibition.