The Internet was not working and because it was Ferragosto – it was not about to get fixed anytime soon. Everyone was on holiday. So that left more time for me to be out and enjoy – dancing to the rhythm that is Italy.
Our first full day – we all took part in a walking tour of Pienza – Our guide Anna – was so thin, the slightest breeze we were afraid would take her away from us – so we paid close attention as not to lose her! She gave us the grand tour of the Duomo – the Piazza – the transformation of the town form Corsignano to Pienza – Pointed out the Palaces – each architects work – and then we strolled down the street of new houses – new in 1462 that is…
Following the tour tour – we stopped for lunch at the Latte di Luna – Milk of the Moon – a favorite restaurant of many visiting this town. We had handmade pasta and crostinis – and of course, the local salamis and pecorino cheese made from sheep’s milk. By day 3 we would be praying the next meal would not be including more cheese!
This was the first of many fantastic dining experiences we continued to enjoy during the days ahead.
Our week included things that you typically would not visit as an American tourist – One in
particular is the Teatro Povero in nearby Monticchiello, mainly because it is entirely in Italian, of course. Every summer for three weeks, the entire town square of this medieval village is transformed into a grand stage and the residents become actors – amazingly good actors! Created in the 60′s as a way to express the hardship of living in the Italian countryside during the industrial revolution, the Teatro Povero (Poor Theater) has become extremely popular with Italians and theater goers worldwide as a unique and memorable experience.
It can be however, one of those evenings where you wondered why you were there at the time and spoke eagerly about it to others upon your return home…
Now, you may have already heard this, and I am here to tell you that it is all true – the most important part of almost any trip to Italy is the visit to the gelateria! The selection process is not taken lightly… many of the choices are typically between strawberry or melon, chocolate and cream, banana, hazelnut and pistachio – and even saffron if you are lucky (a Sicilian favorite). But which goes best with which? And in a cone or in a cup? Surely you will get two flavors…. I recommend ordering your favorite as a base and pair that flavor with every other flavor offered every chance you get! Al loves strawberry and lemon! Fragole e Limone!
And the landscape continued to be simply stunning.
After Montalcino – we enjoyed a tour of the Fattoria dei Barbi situated just south of the town – one of the oldest wineries in the region producing fine Brunello wines for 5 generations… Bottles on display dated back to 1895! Our tasting including samplings of their wines as well as their salamis and of course – cheese! 
We also stopped at Sant’Antimo Monastery arriving in time for the 2:45 mass and chanting. These days it is a bit different as most pews are filled with tourists instead of townspeople – however, the chanting continues to stir our souls…
One of our days, a few of our guests partook in an early morning balloon flight with Ballooning in Tuscany – Englishman and veteran pilot Robert Etherington was at the burners launching from his home in nearby Montisi. As they ascended into the sky for a bird’s eye view of Tuscany- we headed back to gather up the others to head out on our half day tour visiting San Anna Comprena (made famous in the U.S. as the setting for the English Patient), Il Casale farm and the artist studio of Aleardo and Enrico Paolucci - a father and son artist studio producing some very important and magnificent artwork from the Pienza region. Aleardo is explaining his work above and son Enrico’s studio is below. The passion of artwork transcends much of our language barriers. Absolutely wonderful.
So much more to see and say…. and of course then there is Siena – and the Palio… next up.
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