Two Nights in Sulmona

Sulmona is a beautiful small town in the mountains. The views are spectacular. We spent a lot of time walking the streets and alleyways and were pleasantly surprised at the absence of the graffiti found in larger towns. We toured a "confetti" factory, confetti being the name of the sugar coated almond candy used as special occasion gifts. They are also the inspiration for the handmade flowers which appear to be made of the candies. 

Sulmona also has connections with the papacy. Pope Celestine V was a hermit who isolated himself on Mount Morrone near Sulmona, and founder of the Celestine order. The papacy was forced upon him in 1294 when the cardinals, after two years, had yet to reach consensus. Preferring the contemplative life, Celestine V resigned after five months. Some Sulmona residents wonder if Celestine V was the inspiration for Benedict XVI's resignation, as it was after a visit to Sulmona in 2010 that Benedict also chose to return to a life of contemplation. 

The famous Latin poet Ovid also hails from Sulmona and his words are everywhere in town.  "If you want to be loved, be loveable."

More than anything, Sulmona was an eating experience.  Abundant cakes, pastries and croissants at breakfast, a dinner of the local arrosticini kebabs and other roasted meats, and a vegetarian lunch of eggplant parmesan, stuffed roasted red peppers, onion torte and  cheese "meatballs". Even the most dedicated carnivore would not have missed the meat, proving that Meatless Mondays need not be boring.

We are off today to the coastal city of Vasto. Thank you, Google, for the arrosticini and red peppers pics. I was too busy eating to take my own!