The umbrella: a most necessary item when travelling through Italy at this time of year. Particularly useful when crossing from the Val Tiberina over the hills and dales (Tuscan pre-Apennines, to be exact) that literally drop you onto Cortona and the Val di Chiana below.

It is spring time after all, and it does obviously rain as the area is lush and cool. It makes sense to carry one along in the car, but not for the reasons you think.

Keep an eye out when you cross one of the many stone bridges over streams. You will often find cerase, trees bearing small, delicious, bitter wild cherries, growing naturally along the banks. Just out of reach, of course.

Lucky you brought that umbrella…