Another stop on our tour of the Chianti region was at the terra cotta workshop of Sergio Ricceri.
Sergia Ricceri throwing a pot.
Here we learned about the high quality of clay in this region, which produces superior terra cotta pots and decorative items. I was attracted to the planters decorated with lemons and also the roosters.
Sergio’s works are available directly from him (and several people in my group ordered pieces which he shipped–and they arrived perfectly intact).
These three pictures are from Sergio’s website; the painted pieces are hand-painted.
Picture from Sergio’s website.
As we left Sergio’s workshop, the sun was setting, and everywhere we looked, the sky was vibrant pink.
A big part of Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is spending time with people as they go about their everyday lives. On this tour in Tuscany and Umbria, we spent a day at Podere Le Fornaci, an organic farm run by Amanda, Valentina and Nocolo. They raise goats and make goat cheese which is sold in local markets.
First, we met the goats and learned of the history of the farm and the people who work the farm. Then we learned about making goat cheese and helped make some cheese. We ended the day with a meal that incorporated varieties of goat cheese.
This is Liugi. On this small goat farm, every goat has a name. Liugi was the most rambunctious of the goats we met.
An introductioon to goat farming and the goatsOur Group Tour Leader GiacomoA lesson the varieties of goat cheese. I learned that goat cheese can be aged–for a bit at least. Our group making goat cheese.Ready for lunch
Our guide, who was from New York, shared the history of the cemetery and told a few stories of the service people buried there. Then we had some time to walk through the grounds.
It was now the end of the day, and our guide asked if we would help her take down the flag. We walked to the flagpole as Taps played from a loudspeaker.
This happned to be on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022.
Our walking tour in Florence began on top of a hill outside the city.
We walked through the Rose Garden, and even though it was November, roses were still blooming. The garden is maintained by volunteers, and I imagine in summer it is full of color and scent.
Given my love for whimsy in the garden, I could not resist cozying up to the man on the bench (our tour guide said this man was known for bringing luck in love–still waiting).
Our Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) tour group posing with a whimsical suitcase photo frame.
From the Rose Garden, we walked down the path and through the gates into Florence.
Our first excursion outside Lucca was to the Carrara Marble Quarries, about an hour’s drive northwest. I had never given any thought to where marble comes from, so I was awestruck when I learned that what I thought was snow on the mountain top was actually a mountain of marble.
We were greeted by the company’s owner and given hard hats.
And then we walked inside the quarry. As in the limestone quarry in Les Baux, I was entranced by how high the quarry walls are. In this working quarry, we learned about the history of marble and watched marble being cut into huge slabs.
Marble being cut.This is the blade used to cut the marble from the mountain.
Looking up along the saw blade, inside the quarry.
The shutters in Lucca caught my eye because there were unlike any I had ever seen, and they reminded me of eyelashes. There were so whimsical, as though the windows were fluttering their eyeslashes at me.
I was in Lucca, Italy, for six days and walked the twisting, turning streets (and often felt lost, although I was following Goodle maps). I enjoyed the sights along the streets and fell in love with the City.
A canal runs through the city.One of the early gates into the city. Later the city walls were moved out to enlarge the city.A sculptor on the street.The streets of Lucca twist and turn.Towers were once a symbol of wealth.I thought there might be something magical or miraculous about the water in this fountain, but it is just water the locals drink.
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), was born in Lucca and spent a substantial part of his life there.
Statue of Giacomo Puccini in front of the Puccini Museum
In a joint venture between art students and professional artists, twelve store shutters were painted with the women of Puccini’s operas.
Unfortunately, the exhibit was not meant to be permanent and some of the shutters have been painted over, but here are the ones I noticed as I walked the streets of Lucca.
After twelve days in France, I flew to Florence for an Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) tour of Tuscany and Umbria. The tour began in Lucca, a walled city about an hour west of Florence.
I arrived three days before the tour began, and I used those days to explore Lucca.
On my first day, I took a walk on the top of the walls and also visited the Palazzo Pfanner, a home and garden inside the walls. Even though it was November, there were plenty of flowers and lemons (I stopped counting the lemon trees at 25. I thought maybe they used all those lemons for limoncello, but I was told they just like lemons).
Palazzo Pfanner as seen from on top of the city wall. Those are all lemon trees lining the walkways.
I stayed at the San Luca Palace Hotel inside the walls. It was a great location and a wonderful hotel. The staff was extremely welcoming and helpful. Since I was on my own those first few days, I appreciated their suggestions and directions. I highly recommend staying at this hotel because their attention to service was outstanding.
I arrived in early afternoon, and even though it was not meal time, one of the staff offered to make me something to eat (a delicious ham and cheese panini).
Then, I needed a manicure, and the Hotel receptionist recommended a nearby salon. Even though no one in the small salon spoke English, we were able to communicate through gestures, and I got the best manicure I have ever had!
Day one in Italy was the beginning of a wonderful adventure.
Madeline Bialecki 