Our next stop was gorgeous Tuscany, breathtaking vistas any way you looked! We rented a car and nervously made our way out onto the highways of Italy. We learned to read traffic signs, ignore the natives as they sped past us, how to pump gas and follow vague road maps. Our first day of driving took us through Chianti country where we stopped for lunch at Castello di Gabbiano, a winery and agriturismo. Had a wonderful lunch and a "sweet ending", as our waiter described it, of limoncello. We kept heading south in a light rain until we came to our lodging at Hotelito Lupaia~what a dream! It was right out of a storybook, so charming and even had a resident puppy, Sponge, who became a frequent visitor to our terrace. Our first evening we had dinner at Lupaia by a blazing fire on a cool, rainy night~ a four course meal made by Franco, the resident chef. For the next few days we visited the neighboring towns of Sienna, Montepulciano, Montalcino and Pienza. We walked cobblestone streets, searched for parking and a great leather purse, ate delicious pasta and gelato, tasted wine, admired hand painted ceramics, and soaked up the scenery.
road to Castello di Gabbiano
grapevines at Gabbiano
gate to our terrace at Hotel Lupaia
our "loaded with charm" room
outside our door
old aqua door
view from our room - aaaaahhhh
at dinner our first night
dessert - chocolate "salami" with orange marmalade- reminded me of the dark chocolate oranges I put in the girl's Christmas stockings
the homey, colorful kitchen at Lupaia
you can't get much more colorful!
Sponge - one of our friendly hosts!
Piazza de Campo in Sienna
Torre del Mangio in Sienna
Sienna Duomo
dome of the cathedral
farmland out the car window
stand of cypress trees
arriving in Montepulciano
part 2 of Tuscany trip to come....
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