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



154. Osteria San Guido

We saved this restaurant for a special occasion and tonight is that night!



Fresh from our holiday to Elba we have an evening to kill and as it's on the way back, decide theat the opportunity is too good to pass up! We've driven past the restaurant many times, nestled at the entrance of the famous avenue of cypress trees that lead to the small town of Bolgheri. This elegant osteria belongs to the owners of the wine estate that make the world famous 'Sassicaia' wine, Mario Incisa della Rochetta and his estate, San Guido.

We book a table and then go away to change into some decent clothes and as we have some time, pop into the town to have a peak... We return in time to see a wonderful sunset over the vineyards.



The outside seating is very atmospheric and I cheekily ask for a taste of the estate's second cru wine, Guidalberto and the waitresss willingly complies!

We then gorge ourselves on a great mixed antipasti, mushroom and rabbit tagliatelle, aubergine crispy pancakes, main courses of pork and peppers, guinea fowl and some wicked chocolate cake all washed down with a bottle of the estate's 'La Difese' red wine. A super meal at a very reasonable price and a beautiful setting... A nice way to end my journal no. 6!
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