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



77. Bruno Magli's cars and Caratello

Book 4



May is now in full swing. After our scorching heatwave temperatures are back to a more civilized and bearable 25-30°C. All the summer concert schedules are in, tickets bought, holiday to Sardinia is booked and only two weeks till the outside pool is open...



This weekend we've planned to check out this wine festival in nearby San Casciano. Saturday and I'm working until 5 oclock, but downstairs in Piazza Strozzi there's a surprise car exhibition... Shoe entrepeneur extrordinaire, Bruno Magli is opening a new shop in Florence and to show how wealthy he already is, has decided to bring a few of his classic cars, which is fine by me... It's far too difficult trying to leave without looking at all some incredible pieces. 1920's and 30's Fiats, Alfa Romeos, Lancias a wonderful Bugatti and Aston Martin and cool Ferrari 275 GTB... I wonder if he'll mind me borrowing one for the weekend?





After finally tearing myself away I catch the end of the FA cup final, a rather dull 1-0 win for the Arsenal over an unlucky Southampton. We head on to San Casciano and arrive some time after 7 pm. We discover the wine festival finishes at 8.00 and so afeter checking out the wine on offer, decide to come back tomorrow, a little earlier!


As it's far too late to start cooking we stop at a very cosy looking restaurant near the villa, called Caratello and enjoy a nice hearty meal. I have the papardelle with a lamb ragu and Annette linguine with lobster!

Here is the restaurant's website
http://www.caratello.com/

(Original journal entry 17/5/03)
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1 comment:

Tracey from Central Coast Seachange said...

I'm really enjoying your blog, especially while I sit here in a very wet Sydney Australia.

June 3, 2011 at 1:01 PM

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