Saturday, October 15, 2011 – Pienza, Italy - Cathedral Val d'Orcia

The Duomo, Pienza, Italy - Cathedral Val d'Orcia, which dominates the center of the piazza, has a facade that is one of the earliest designed in the Renaissance. The bell tower has a Germanic flavor. Works of art in the duomo include five altar paintings from the Sienese School, by Sano di Pietro, Matteo di Giovanni, Vecchietta and Giovanni di Paolo. The Baptistry, dedicated as usual to San Giovanni, is located next to the apse of the church.

    Pienza, Italy - Cathedral Val d'Orcia

 

   

 

   

Judy, Edward and Elaine               Courtyard at the cathedral.

 

We saw a wedding while walking down the street.  The bride in on a donkey. 

 

    

 

    

 

Friday, October 14, 2011 – Montepulciano, Italy (Siene), Wine Tasting and Tour at Poliziano Winery

Today we toured the Poliziano Vineyards in Montepulciano, Italy (Siena). It was a little cool and windy but the sun was bright.  This was set up by a relative, Paul, from Jimmy’s Food Market. They gave us the most detailed tour and explanation of the wine making process we have ever had. We tasted a few of the wines then we went to the dining area for lunch.  They provided a wonderful lunch and we had a couple of reds and a white with our lunch. What an experience!  Thanks, Paul, for setting this up for us. 

We were told that after January 2014 we will be able to drink the wine they were harvesting and processing this year.  The grounds were beautiful and the facilities are immaculate. Paul carries their wine and is a good customer.

Receptionist at the vineyard, Jenny, is from the USA.  She decided to give up a law career to come to Italy.  She teaches English to the children of the vineyard owner, greets visitors of the winery and also has her first novel that she wrote after arriving in Italy with an agent searching for a publisher.  Not a bad idea -  Live your dream!!!

After the we left the winery we went to tour the city of Montepulciano which is located high on a hill above the vineyard.  It has great views and the vistas are so wonderful!

This is our room at the Monastery.  It is located in the back of the Monastery and Nick and Judy have a room are above us (see windows above the roof.

 

 

Nick, Judy, Edward listening to Margherita tell us about the grapes.

Elaine, Edward and Margherita Pallecchi,Tour Guide at Poliziano. 

  

In in vineyards, Edward, Elaine, Judy and Nick

   

After picking, the grapes are unloaded into this machine

 

The wooden cast room.               Nick, Judy, Elaine and Edward  in the room.

   

Fermation Tanks.

   

Bottles are full waiting to be labeled.

 

Cement cast are used for storage.

    The owner’s wine.  Keeps some for each year.

 

  

Judy, Nick and Edward with Margherita in the owner’s room and in the aging room

 

  

All the wines they make and the awards.        Tasting Room with Margherita.

  

Edward with one of our favorites.

   

These wines are open and attached to oxygen to keep them fresh for longer period of time.

 

       Chef Fabio

Dining Room where we had lunch prepared by Fabio.

   

Having a nice starter before lunch and doing some tasting.

    Price List

Wine Leaf sculpture in the dining room.

   

View of the hills of vineyards in the Multipulciano area.

   

Edward and Elaine in Multipulciano and a view of the city high on a hill.

    

Edward looking at the vistas.

   

Poster for church built in 1462

     

A small church in Montepulciano we found taking a wrong turn.

 

 

Thursday, October 13, 2011 – Venice, Italy – depart for Florence

We depart Venice today. Water Taxi picked us up at 8:30 am and we departed on the 9:27 am train to Florence. We will pick up a rental car and go to Sant Anna Comprenena 13th Century Monastery for 4 nights. LIMITED WI-FI, NO TV, NO SWIMMING POOL, etc.  We will be taking day tours out to other areas in Tuscany from here.

     

Views from the Water Taxi to the train station.

    

 

      Nick ad Judy on the Water Taxi

 

     Elaine and Edward on the Water Taxi

  Arriving at the train station.

 

        

After picking up a rental car we stopped to have lunch at roadside restaurant that only said “Paninis”.  There were several cars so we thought that sounded good and would be fast.  It was good and at a good price.

   

This is the soccer field next to the restaurant – check out the light poles – they have cell phone dishes on them.  Very smart way to provide lights on the field.

A few hours later we arrive at Sant Anna.  It is so peaceful.  The sunset was gorgeous!

    

Sunset toast with a good wine.

  

        This is a wonderful Tuscan Sunset!

 

    

 

  Moonlight in the middle of Tuscany.