On Friday morning we took our last group walk through the city and over the Arno to see a few remaining sights. A highlight was lovely Santo Spirito Church with it's incredible wooden cruifix attributed to Michelangelo. Scholars believe this was the "thank you" gift the 17-year old carved and gave to the monks there for allowing him to study the corpses in their morgue to understand the human body which he so wonderfully sculpted throughout his lifetime of 80 plus years. In the photos today you'll see our "goodbye dinner" in the courtyard and some interesting night shots of this beautiful city. On Saturday morning at 4:30 a.m. we said "Ciao" to nine travelers and two more at 7:45 as they taxied off to the airport and flights back home. Two more left in the afternoon and Patrizia leaves on Sunday. What a wonderful month it has been in "my city" - Florence! I'll be back for sure and perhaps you will come along! No more for now . . . Ciao!
I HAVE SET UP A NEW PHOTOBLOG SITE FOR THE 2014 TOURS. YOU CAN STILL SEE PHOTOS FROM 2008 TO 2013 HERE. TO VIEW THE LATEST TOURS GO TO: WWW.INTUSCANYWITHPATRIZIA.BLOGSPOT.COM
"Un Chianti Pomeriggo" A Chianti Afternoon - Oct. 13
We had our own mini-bus and driver to take us on an afternoon jaunt through the Chianti countryside. Our first stop was at the WWII American Cemetery where we paid respects to the over 4,000 soldiers buried there. The setting is beautiful with the typical Tuscan landscape and the well-maintained cemetery. Following that visit we stopped in the little town of Greve - the "capital of Chianti" - to have lunch and browse in the shops. Back aboard our bus, we climbed the hills to Castello Verrazzano which is perfectly set among vineyards, olive groves and winding roads lined with the lovely "flame cyprus" and "umbrella pine" trees. Our guide, Marcello, showed us around the grounds of the estate and into the wine cellars. They also produce olive oil and balsamic vinegar here. This is the birthplace of Giovanni Verrazzano who first discovered the mouth of the Cape Fear River (at Southport) in 1524 so many of us felt a real connection! The wine tasting was fun on the lovely terrace with perfect weather. The weather has been great for the entire month - unusally warm with only one or two rain showers. You will see how lovely the Chianti area is in our photos today. More later . . . Ciao!