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



80. Mille Miglia classic car rally


A bit of a special weekend starts here... As usual I'm working Saturday morning and Annette is in working on her Diploma course. Piazza Strozzi has again been turned into a giant car show as 30 brand new Ferraris turn up! I'm not quite sure why, but they make for some pretty expensive decorations...



After lunch I head back home to see if I can catch some of this year's 'Mille miglia' car race. Last year I saw some of it in Chiocchio while watching Chelsea lose to Arsenal in the FA cup final. This year I arrive on the Chiantigiana at the turn off to Impruneta at around 2.30. The cars have just started passing and I notice that some are over-shooting the turn. So I quickly grab a red board pen and paper and scribble out some instructions to show the way... BRESCIA and a large arrow!  I stay with a couple of locals, waving at the drivers who seem to see the funny side of my hand made banner!




For about two hours I am an unofficial steward of the Mille Miglia! Of course the usual array of incredible cars come screeching past. The old V-8 and V-12 engines are music to the ears and the bodywork is a pleasure to the eyes. There are many German and Japanese drivers and lots of English number plates as well as countless Ferraris and gullwing Mercedes making for a truly memorable drive-by. I just hope they all make it to Brescia!
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