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



72. Poppi, Castello Nipozzano and Arezzo

Well the first three weeks of April have been very tough - lots of work, mixed weather and no time for fun. However Eater is finally upon us and we have eleven days of paid holiday Yipee! That's the good news... the bad news is we're too late to book anywhere, so instead we stay local. Saturday is a warm sunny day, so we pack up the picnic bag and head off towards the Appenine mountains. Destination, Poppi.





We take the s.s. 70 out of Florence and through Pontassieve. About 10 miles and I spot a signpost to 'Castello Nipozzano' a name familiar to me for their rather good Chianti Ruffina wine... The castle is very impressive and the drive up, breathtaking! It was built in 1000 A.D. as a defensive fortress and today houses the cellars of the wines from its estate. We rouse the girl working in the enoteca and are treated to an impromptu and free wine tasting session. This castle as well as many others in Italy is owned by the 'Frescobaldi' one of Tuscany's oldest wine making families, dating back to the 1300's. We buy 2 bottles of the Nipozzano riserva and 1 of their Rosso di Montalcino. We wander round the outside admiring the views and settle down the road in an olive grove for our picnic lunch.



To get to Poppi we have to go up and over the Passo della Consuma, which at 3,000 feet is no mean task!
Poppi is a delightful town, dominated by the massive Castello dei Conti Guidi. Built in 1191 partly by Arnolfo di Cambio, yes the same guy who designed the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. We enjoy some drinks in a bar overlooking the castle and much needed relaxation.




Our last stop is Arezzo. We've been here once before, so it's nice to become re-acquainted with this beautiful medeival city and wander round the Piazza Grande, imagining ourselves in the film, La Vita e Bella!  A very nice day out...

(Original journal entry - 19/4/03
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