57th International Grand Chapitre d'Italie,Gubbio 16th to 19th October 2025
As I am sure you are all aware, Dr Xuereb, our Baillie Delegue, was made a Member of the Conseil Magistral in June 2022.
This year was his first overseas activity as an inducting officer.
The event was the 57th International Grand Chapitre d'Italie, held in Gubbio from 16 to 19 October 2025.
Below are some of his personal comments concerning the event.
The Chapitre was held with much gravitas and aplomb at the Park Hotel Ai Cappuccini, a converted 17th-century convent where no fewer than 76 inductions and awards were held.
As always, many nationalities were represented, but certainly no fewer than 22.
The Gala dinner was held in the main dining room of the same hotel, which boasts a priceless original Sphere in Sphere sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro, with a very ably executed menu by the highly renowned chef Gianfranco Vissani ( 1-star Michelin) and his son Alessandro. Vissani Sr and the hotel owner, Sig.ra Maria Carmela Colaiacovo, were promoted separately after the gala dinner before Bailli Delegue Dott. Roberto Zanghi concluded the evening
In true Italian style, the entire program was supremely interesting, highly cultural and full of surprises.
The Welcome Dinner on Thursday was held after a sparkling wine tasting at Cantina Sermonte, followed by dinner within the same Winery, at Il Custode restaurant, by Chef Marco Bistarelli - excellent on all counts and accompanied by the Cantina’s own wines.
A tour of Assisi on Friday morning was followed by an aperitif at Urbani Tartufi, a truffle processing enterprise owned by a member of the Bailliage of Como, Sig. Rada Spadoni-Urbani, our hostess. They lay on a spectacular array of truffle-based antipasti and finished off with truffle-infused sweet nibbles and a gift for every participant.
Lunch at Antico Casale Urbani in the heart of the lush Valnerina might have been a little overshadowed by the aperitif served just before, but it was a pleasant and informal occasion. Elsie and I sat with a group of youngsters who, we learnt during the course of the meal, were to be inducted on the following day, and who, very coincidentally, were all dentists! I was impressed at the number of inductees between the ages of 30 and 40, which bodes well for the future
One of the highlights of the entire program was the dinner on Friday evening held in the heart of the city at Palazzo della Porta. The aperitif and canapés were offered by Sig.ra Colaiacovo, owner of both the Palazzo and the Park Hotel ai Cappuccini, and the biggest attraction here was the medieval spit in one of the halls. One member of the Brigade was roasting an array of local sausages, black pudding, and other meats over the open fire. Superb!
Dinner was in the hands of Chef Ivano Monti of the Park Hotel ai Cappuccini - another triumph! Very ably served by the Brigade and accompanied by Silvio Nardi wines from Montalcino. The owner, Consouer Emilia Nardi of the Calabria Amphysia Bailliage offered all the proceeds that would have emanated from the wine sales to the ACCR - a gesture that was highly praised by Roberto Zanghi and the entire membership present.
We toured the city of Gubbio on foot on Saturday morning, visiting the highlights and culminating in the Cathedral. By 1 o’clock, everyone had worked up an appetite and lunch at La Taverna del Lupo, another Chaine establishment, did not disappoint.
The farewell programme on the Sunday included a tour of the city of Perugia (the only part of the program Elsie and I didn’t participate in) and a visit to Tenuta Castelbuono, owned by the Lunelli Brothers of Ferrari Trentodoc sparkling wine fame. The Winery building itself was designed by the same Arnaldo Pomodoro in the form of a tortoise shell and is aptly named Il Carapace. It is nothing short of a spectacular example of modern architecture that fits in and blends so very well with the surrounding ambience. So much so that it is the highlight of the UNESCO-recognised art and architectural park that Il Carapace sits in.
A tour of the Cellars was followed by a light, but very pleasant lunch served in the Carapace with spectacular views of the Umbrian countryside, accompanied by their excellent predominantly-sagrantino wines
Special thanks to Roberto and Petra as well as compliments to Enrico Spalazzi and Monica di Molfetta and the entire Board of the Bailliage d’Italie
Finesse, attention to detail and class - a truly special Chapitre in typical Italian fashion!,
