Gina, an Assisi Treasure

September 28, 2012 9:01 am Published by Anne Leave your thoughts

Gina

As you walk Assisi, especially, “Assisi di Sopra” (or “upper Assisi”, ie, the area round the Cathedral of San Rufino), you might be lucky enough to run into Gina, perhaps just back from a foraging trip in the mountainside fields just outside of the town. She might be dressed in simple work clothes but you might see her in an elegant ruffled blouse, wearing her pearls.

In April and May, she’ll be hunting wild asparagus or the coveted wild green, rapunzoli and caccialepri.

In June, she’ll be scrambling the mountains with her walking stick, seeking the wildflowers needed for the flower petal tapestries of le Infiorate.

Gina with wild salad greens

She’ll probably have some wild fennel, too, which she’ll give to local restaurants for the seasoning of pork and poultry dishes.

In early fall, just after the first rains, she’ll head out with a sharpened knife to gather la cicoria and grugnoli on the mountainside just outside the medieval walls …and in the midst of the olive groves on the slopes.

If rains follow warm weather in October, Gina knows where to find the tastiest wild mushrooms.

If you see her on the street, she’ll probably give you some…

Over ninety years old, our Gina is an Assisi treasure.

Read about her work on the Assisi flower petals, infiorate
Click here to read about the astounding Spello Infiorate
Read about Peppa’s wild chicory lore, too

Gina just back from chicory-hunting – in pearls, elegant blouse!

Categorised in: Local people

Gina, an Assisi Treasure

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