Thursday, 22 November 2012
It was Thanksgiving day and we decided to take a drive north. We wanted to make a stop at the hotel where we, Claire, and Alessandra would be spending a few days at Christmas. The Hotel was recommended to us ten years ago on a previous trip to Tuscany and we had seen the grounds at that time but had never stayed or eaten here. We introduced ourselves at the desk, were warmly welcomed and encouraged to look around and enjoy ourselves. So we did! After a few photos outdoors we agreed that it was just as beautiful as we remembered and stayed for lunch. A nice table for two right in front of the fireplace and a few glasses of prosecco sealed the deal. This is going to be great. http://www.amorosa.it/en/gallery
From here we continued north to the Monte Oliveta Maggiore Abbey. http://www.monteolivetomaggiore.it/lang1/ The monastery was begun in 1320 and finished by 1344. The setting, on a thickly wooded hill, is calm, quiet, and isolated from the rest of the Tuscan region. Being here in the non tourist season added to that atmosphere as we were the only people around for much of the time. There was only one other car in the parking area. It was late in the day so we did not have a lot of time to wander but thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
We wove our way toward home through the never ending twisting roadway of the local landscape. At one point Laura called out to look out her side of the car at the sky. The clouds were lit up in a neon red as the sun was dipping below the horizon. We were lucky since nobody was behind us. By luck we came almost immediately to a road into an olive grove where I could slide to a stop. We bailed out, sneaked past a few rows of trees and took in the wonders of yet another Tuscan sunset. Within 90 seconds though it was over! It went from glowing red to grey in no time. If we had continued and looked for the next driveway we would have missed the entire show.
First, a quick stop in Montepluciano at the market.
What happened???
Around the grounds at del’Amorossa. This place dates back to a hamlet in1300 and has its own church, barn, stalls, and associated buildings. Many have been beautifully renovated into a hotel and restaurant. Merry Christmas! I hope Santa finds us.
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Lunch is off to a good start.
Some of the agricultural landscape just before the Abbey
We have not figured out what these red buildings are for on the roadsides.
The interior if the church at the Abbey.
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Thirty seconds too late.
Two minutes later it was a study in grey tones