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



251. Castelnuovo Bearadenga

Annette is off on a 4-day trip to the UK to see her family while I'm back at work...




Saturday and it's a nice sunny afternoon, so after my lesson with Stefano Chioccioli I take a drive down to Chianti's most southerly town, Castelnuovo Bearadenga.




I stop off on the way at Castello di Brolio. A few other wine estates I've marked, appear to be all closed up. Finally I find one open. It's the lovely estate of Felsina. I taste some great wines and buy a great 1998 supertuscan 100% Cabernet Sauvignon called Maestro Raro.




The main square of Castelnuovo Bearadenga is having a facelift, but I enjoy a pleasant stroll.


I drive on to Siena for an evening wander and look at the shops. Not as much fun on your own!
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