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



252. Monte'caro' and Villa Torrigiani

Well Annette is back home, we have a relaxing day at home on 25th -which is a national holiday here, 'Festa della Repubblica', as the weather isn't so good.



Today is the workers' holiday, or May day in England and the weather is a little brighter, so we decide to visit the Villa Torrigiana, which is near Lucca. The gardens are pretty and the villa is impressive. The heavens open briefly, so we seek refuge under the terrace and spend some time reading our books, which we have brought with us.




On our way home we decide to check out the very picturesque hill-top town of Montecarlo (not the French one!) and have a very expensive cup of tea!




It's only a week until Annette's niece, Felicity and her 2 1/2 year old son, Stanley arrive for a visit...
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