From Pisa we drove to the small town of Montalcino in Val d’Orcia Tuscany, part of a World Heritage Site for Humanity. Montalcino is named after an oak tree variety that once covered the mountainous area around the town. It’s also the center of over too producers of the famous Brunello di Montalcino wine. We stayed for three nights at the Palazzina Cesira (Via Soccorso Saloni, 2, 53024 Montalcino SI, Italy). The Cesira is a bed and breakfast run by Robert, an Italian/American and his wife, Lucilla. Lucilla was a little under the weather but we did enjoy the company of Robert, also an accomplished photographer. Montalcino was our base for exploring probably the most beautiful areas of Tuscany as shown in the images from this and the next two posts.
So… this isn’t Montalcino, but is a view of San Gimignano, “the Town of Fine Towers”. About a dozen tower houses remain of around 72 at the end of the medieval age, and the only town we saw with towers that were not part of a local church. We passed by here on the way to Montalcino.
Entrance to the Cesira adorned with Robert’s amazing photography
This is where we relaxed
This is where we ate breakfast each morning
We had to park about five blocks from the hotel. Here’s our wonderful little Fiat 500 XL and Grima relaxing while I climbed around taking pictures.
One night, returning to Montalcino from wandering the lush countryside of the Val d’Orcia, we were pleasantly surprised to stumble across the local townsfolk dressed in historical attire to celebrate their patron Saint Day (Our Lady of Perpetual Help). We followed them as they marched through the town to the Piazza del Popolo where the festival continued into the night next to the Palazzo dei Priori.
Tradition is losing way to technology
If you find yourself in Montalcino, you must take an evening stroll along the Via Pietro Strozzi to the Church of the Madonna del Soccorso and enjoy amazing sunsets over the Val d’Orcia from the little park behind the church.
So, more to come. Love to hear what you have to say about our travels.