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



142. Monte Morello

The weather in June has kind of settled to a pleasant, if not spectacular 25°C. Days are a mixture of sun and cloud, slighty frustrating for trips to the beach or pool. There are however plenty of other things to do.




This afternoon we decide on a lazy drive up to Monte Morello, which at 2,600 feet (that's nearly as high as Mt. Snowdon in Wales!) is Florence's highest spot. Needless to say the views are pretty amazing. We can see most of the city and surrounding hills from up here, including the dome!




We walk up to a grassy spot and settle on our trusty rug for some reading and relaxation.

Far too difficult to cook this evening we drive up to the Forte Belvedere to the south of Florence and find a cozy enoteca cxalled 'Fuori Porta', we indulge in some glases of wine and cold cuts...  a good find



(Original journal entry 20/6/04)
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