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



273. Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci at the Arena di Verona and Lake Garda

Our final week in Italy finishes in some style with a dream visit to Verona and our first live Opera at the ancient Roman theatre, the mecca of open air Opera!




We have booked a room at an elegant farmhouse near the city and after leaving home at around 10.00 am arrive at our first destination, Lake Garda at around 1.00. We stop at Lasize for a quick dip in the lake, just to cool ourselves down. We have a stroll through the very pretty town and stop for a nice seafood pasta lunch at the port overlooking the lake.




We leave at around 4 and drive on to Verona and our 'agriturismo'. The temperature is close to 40° and so a very welcomed plunge in their swimming pool is just the job!


A shower and change of clothing and we're on our way to Romeo and Juliet's town for a taste of some outdoor Opera.


We stop for a cool prosecco and nibbles in a jazzy bar and then we're in! The Arena... the second largest amphitheatre after the Colisseum in Rome. This year is the 84th season. We have a great seat high up in the gods and as the sun goes down, the little candles that everyone has been give when they arrived, light up! Caverellia is up first and the famous 'Intermezzo' instrumental brings the house down. Pagliacci provides a colourful contrast and both one act Operas are wonderful with great performances. For me it's a dream come true to be here... a 12.30 am finish, but we have no problem finding a restaurant open for a midnight pizza and 2 am drive round Verona back to our agriturismo.





Sirmione


A 9.30 am breakfast appointment and we're packed up and back on the road for a morning visit to the prettiest town on Lake Garda, Sirmione. We park up and find a tiny beach for my customary pre-lunch swim. The town is gorgeous and we browse round the shops and buy some more presents for our families. After our swim we have a drink in a lakeside bar and then happen on a funky enoteca for some wicked bruschetta and white wine. In our endless pursuit to fit in as much as possible, we drive up the western side of the lake past Desenzano and Sala, to Gargnano, where we have another swim at our old beach, just outside the town and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. In the evening we drive back into Gargnano...


Gargnano


This is the small town we stayed with Rory a year ago. It's very pretty and quiet. This time we're back at this very stylish restaurant, A.A. Miralago, where we enjoy a sardine pasta and fish feast for a wonderful end to our 2-day break. Only the three-hour drive home...
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