The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta on the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia

In 2001 I came to live in Italy. I had some fun, wrote a journal and this is the blog of my story...

"Tuscany is a state of grace. The countryside is so lovingly designed that the eye sweeps the mountains and valleys without stumbling over a single stone. The lilt of the rolling green hills, the upsurging cypresses, the terraces sculptured by generations that have handled the rocks with skillful tenderness, the fields geometrically juxtaposed as though drawn by a draughtsman for beauty as well as productivity; the battlements of castles on the hills, their tall towers standing grey-blue and golden tan among the forest of trees, the air of such clarity that every sod of earth stands out in such dazzling detail. The fields ripening with barley and oats, beans and beets. The grape-heavy vines espaliered between the horizontal branches of silver-green olive trees, composing orchards of webbed design, rich in intimation of wine, olive oil and lacy-leaf poetry. Tuscany untied the knots in a man's intestines, wiped out the ills of the world. Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy, Florence is the flower of Tuscany." Irving Stone from my favourite book " The Agony and the Ecstacy" A fictional biography of Michelangelo



62. Vallombrossa and Reggello


Befana, that quintissential Italian celebration, has come and gone and fortunately the old witch didn't bring me any coal! I must have been a good boy this year.. and so it's back to work, although everybody is already looking forward to half-term in March! New Year's resolutions still intact and I've even started some Italian lessons!


'Autumnal leaves that strow the brooks, in Vallombrosa' Paradise Lost, John Milton



Today is a cool crisp, but beautifully sunny afternoon and the sun forces us out of hibernation, destination - Vallombrossa, a beautiful, shaded valley that is actually a sprawling forest some 900 metres or 2,700 feet above sea level. Famous for its Benedictinne Abbey, founded in 985 A.D. There are many Beech and Fir trees with an added bonus today... a covering of thick snow! Many locals have come to sledge and are having lots of fun. The views from this high up are of course splendid and the Alpine surroundings spectacular.




We drive on to Regello, a little lower at 2,000 feet, its a small, unassuming town nestled in the Appenine mountains, however we are rewarded with a gorgeous sunset on the way home...



(Original journal entry 12/1/03)
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)