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



197. Wedding - Italian Style!

We are finally going to our first Italian Wedding. Our good friends, Gemma and Tiziano have decided to tiie the knot and we are invited.



A glorious Sunday afternoon greets us as we drive to Prato and head to the Palazzo Comunale. It's a wonderful setting for the short ceremony in this old building.




Gemma's parents and sister have made it over from Wales, as well a some of her friends. We are giving a Scottish couple, Brian and Rhona a lift in our car, Brian is wearing his kilt and gets quite a few stares from the locals. Gemma looks radiant in her pale blue dress and Tiziano dapper in his suit.



The reception is being held in the 15th century Villa Vittoria between Artimino and Comeana. We tuck in to some scrumptious antipasti and punch on the lovely lawn, surrounded by some cool marble statues and breathtaking views of the Carmignano countryside.



We move inside the villa for a sit down meal including many toasts to the bride and groom and afterwards dance the night away to a cool jazz band. It is a perfect day as the happy couple are whisked away and we disappear into the cool, crisp Tuscan evening...



(Original Journal entry 29/5/05)

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