Sunday, 2 December 2012

Sunday morning was a fairly nice looking in Montepulciano so we decided to travel to the absolutely small town of Montebennichi where we had stayed ten years ago.  From there it was on to Arezzo and the once a month antique sale that is held there.  It did not take very long to see that the weather was not going to be in our favor and that the umbrellas would most likely be necessary.

Nothing had changed in Montebennichi with the exception of a tall yellow crane towering over the tiny hamlet.  Apparently there was some restoration work occurring on one of the buildings on the east side.  We knew that the hotel was going to be closed and most likely the small, but also the quite good, little restaurant we used to eat in.  It was nice to see the place once again and it served as a reality check to the memories we had from that trip.  The town is definitely more isolated than where we are now but it had served us well.

We arrived in Arezzo around one in the afternoon under some solid grey skies and were lucky to find a great parking spot just a short walk to the center of town and the market stalls.  The crowds were thin and we could easily look around at what was being offered.  That lasted about 30 minutes before the rain started coming down.  Time for plan B.  Into the first restaurant we found, all of 50 feet away, for lunch and some wine.  It worked out great.  An hour later we were done, the skies had cleared and we got back out and continued the looking, shopping, and a bit of buying.  As the afternoon slipped into the evening the crowd of people had grown substantially and there were many folks out for the Sunday promenade under the first of the illuminated Christmas lights that we have come across.  Many of the stores are beginning to decorate and the mood was quite festive.  It is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Arezzo.

The sign basically translates to “pharmacy of deer”? I think it was a little late for any doctoring for the deer.  Most of the meat products inside were venison which made it my kind of place. Let the shopping begin!  The second line is the family name with “E figli” or, “and sons.”

There were 3 or 4 streets lined like this one with stalls selling everything from glass wear, paintings, furniture, pottery, and what ever else you could want or need.

Some of the locals just kicking back and making sure it all goes well.  They must be waiting for the wine to be served.

I like the circular stairs joining perfectly with the sloped surface of the main piazza in the center of the city.

The decorations are starting to appear. Apparently this coming weekend is the real kickoff for town lights and some local festivals.

You can have any color awning you want as long as it is white.

The two major churches in Arezzo are decorated quite differently from each other. This one obviously is the more simple of the two.

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Do I need to say this is the fancy one? I didn’t think so.

And one of the “small” side chapels of the church.

Some very nice old wood carving chisels that almost make you want to start a new hobby.

Elegantly understated entry way. Anybody need one of these???

Losing the afternoon sun. And loving it.

Basically “Shirts and Tailoring”  I din’t even know my daughter Alessandra HAD a business???!!

And the lights are on!! But I do not think I will ever be a fan of the
LED light color. At least they were not blinking.

All of our friends hated to see us have to leave them. I did have to drive back home yet.