Tuscany- Montepulciano to Monticchiello

Italian Alleys 8x10 oil

A tour of towns around Tuscany starting with Montepulciano which was one of the biggest and oldest nearby to take a tour. At the top of the hill the city dates back to 1100 and newer additions in the 1300 and 1700's the farther you go down. The shops were wonderful to visit, specializing in one craft or service. Without our guide I think we would have gotten lost as the streets wind in and out and around.

 

Cellars and old excavations

Bells

Walking to the top

The first gate entrance to Montepulciano

Ancestral crest of area families who still compete in wine barrel racing

At the top the oldest part of town

Last stop for lunch the very small village of Monticchiello. May  a couple of hundred residents.

A town of Towers

Gate Entrance

Sculptures commemorating surviving the Nazi occupation

Gnocci with lavender dust

Lunch alfresco with friends of our hosts stopping by

First look-Caper bush flowers

Only one more Italy blog to go.

Tuscany Podere il Casale and Pienza

Val d'Orcia View 8x10 oil

 Another beautiful journey around the Tuscan countryside. A visit to the town of Pienza. Just missed George Clooney filming his next movie there about an author. So close.

 

Walled  town of Pienza

 

a view to relish of Val d'Orcia

 

a view every side

 

Strolling through the town

 

taking in the ambience

Streets of Pienza

Another Agritourism venue on a hilltop in Tuscany, campers welcome

Podere il Casale-cheese makers extraodinaire

The tour begins

The aging raw milk cheeses from goats and sheep

A venue for celebration

Pistachios

Pomingranite

Persimmons

Sheep

Goats

Pecorino  Cheese Tasting and lunch

Dining alfresco, overlooking the Val d'Orcia

Okay you may be asking what is Val d'Orcia-

Taken from the Internet

 Val d'Orcia, included in 2004 in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A unique encounter of art and nature, rich in evidence of the past, with a natural landscape redesigned during the Renaissance to reflect the ideals of 'good government' in the Italian city-state. 

Set in the rolling hills covered by olive groves, beech and chestnut trees and vineyards along with medieval Villages and Fortresses in Tuscany along the Orcia River. An example of Renaissance agriculture.

Tuscany- Truffles to Bagno Vignoni

 

Travertine Pathway 8x10 oil

 On our first outting in the Tuscan Coutryside, we met up with the President of the Sienna Truffle Hunters Association, Paolo with Milli the truffle dog. With an introduction to truffles and how dogs are trained we headed out into the hills to see if Milli could find some of the white truffles that the wild boars missed.

We were lucky and Milli was rewarded with the first bite. After the morning of walking we headed to the ancient Roman Baths in a spa town called Badno Vignoni. Where hot springs have cured many for centuries in the beautiful Val d'Orcia.

 

Paolo and Milli

 

Efforts to protect the resources

 

The first of two white truffles

Milli finds the first one-sketch

The wooded terrain for truffles white and black

Popular view along the way in Tuscany

The Big Blue Basin for all to enjoy, below Bagno Vignoni

Village of Bagno Vignoni, our restaurant under the canopy on the right

Chef's choice to serve up our truffles

accompanied by a light lunch of Carapaccio

We three shared a deconstructed Tiramisu

Thanks Kathleen for leading us on the adventure and interpreting for Paolo and of course Milli for your dedication to the job.

Plus a Happy Thankgiving to all