Scrumpdillyicious: Todi: Piazza del Popolo & Ristorante Umbria

One of Umbria's most beautiful hill towns, Todi is perched high up in the mountains with spectacular views in every direction. Reached by an exciting drive through winding roads and hairpin turns, this ancient city is a true delight. Described as one of the 'most liveable towns in the world', Todi has retained much of the original features and charming character of the town's diverse historical periods in the face of passing time. Like rings around a tree, Todi's history can be read in layers. With a rich history dating back to around 1300 BC, Todi was settled by the Umbri, an ancient pre-Etruscan people who gave it the name Tudere. According to legend, one night the new conquerors were eating their meal which was placed on a red cloth, when suddenly an eagle descended upon them, seized the cloth with its talons and flew away, dropping it high up in the hills. This was interpreted as a divine sign, and the new town was built exactly where the eagle had shown. Tudere later became absorbed by the Romans in the 1st century BC, expelling the Etruscans from their new land, and the town became known as Todi.

Roman rule is still evident in many of Todi's architectural features, as are many of the town's Mediaeval buildings that were developed during the 13th century, such as The Piazza del Popolo, one of Italy 's most beautiful medieval squares and Todi's Duomo, the 12th century Cathedral of Santa Annunziata, which sits at one end of the square built on the ruins an ancient pagan temple. The simple facade is approached by a broad sweep of stairs that lead up to magnificent wood carved doors. Looking back, the Duomo commands an impressive view over the sunny Piazza, which is where we enjoyed an early morning cappuccino and pastry at a lovely Gran Caffé Serrani as we watched the town setting up for the annual 'White Night Festival' in the Piazza del Popolo. We then visited the Pinacoteca Civic Museum on the top floor of the Palazzo del Capitano, and is organised into into various sections recounting the thousand-year history of the city of Todi.

Parking at the foot of Todi, we took advantage of the funicular

that took us up very close to the historic centre

View of Todi from a park where the funicular dropped us

The 12th century Cathedral of Santa Annunziata sits at one end of the Piazza del Popolo,

and was built on the ruins an ancient pagan temple

The central portal in wood has a double door made by Antonio Bencivenni in 1521

Fresco by Ferraù Fenzoni in 1596 depicting the Last Judgment,

inspired by Michelangelo's treatment of the same subject in the Sistine Chapel

This is the end of time, the beginning of eternity when some are taken to heaven and others cast into the unending torments of hell!

On the eve of Hurricane Irma bearing down on Florida, I lit a candle at this shrine and prayed in my little way for my parent's home on Longboat Key to escape the storms wrath

Beautiful chandelier in the Duomo representing the symbol of Todi - the eagle

View from the Duomo over the Piazza with many tables being set up for Todi's 'White Night' event in front of the Palazzo del Priore, Palazzo del Popolo and Palazzo del Capitano

The Palazzo del Popolo and Palazzo del Capitano houses the Pinacoteca Civic Museum which tells the thousand-year history of the city of Todi

Antique map of Todi

Madonna col Bambino e i Santi Cassiano, Fortunato, Bernardino da Siena, Callisto e Sebastiano by Andrea Polinori from Todi (1586-1648)

Antique bronze balls used to cast secret votes for clergy in Todi

Etruscan elongated bronze votive figures about 4th-century BC

Entrance to Ristorante Umbria

A symbol of culinary excellence and custodian of the traditions of the real tuderte cuisine, Michelin-starred Ristorante Umbria is the finest restaurant in Todi, and the oldest. After visiting the Duomo and San Fortunate, we wandered through the steeply winding streets that lead to small hidden entrance of Ristorante Umbria. With reservations made months earlier, we had a beautiful table waiting on the gorgeous outdoor terrace with spectacular views over the Tiber valley. Started by Sabatino Todini and his wife Ida over 60 years ago on a small farm located on the site of the restaurant where they used to sell wine in bulk, the property was slowly transformed into the beautiful gastronomic paradise we enjoy today. With a menu highlighting regional recipes and traditional Tuderte cuisine, we enjoyed a glorious lunch of local delicacies beginning with a glass of Prosecco and finishing with a bottle of dark and delicious Sagrantino di Montefalco. Fortified with a sumptuous lunch and hot frothy macchiato, we wound our way back on the hairpin turns of SS448 through Parco Fluviale del Tevere towards Orvieto and then home to our villa for a nap before dinner — "la vita è bella".