Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore

The Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is located a short distance from Montalcino.

The Olivetan community traces its foundations to 1313.

The correct name for the monks of the Abbey is Monaci Benedettini di Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto.

The Abbey is situated 273 m above sea level at Chiusura and overlooks the Crete Senesi countryside.

Construction of the Monastry began in 1393 and was completed in 1526.

An imposing tower with a drawbridge takes you into the Abbey grounds past a botanical garden that supplied medicinal plants for the monks and a fish pond used by the monks for those times of the year during which the Benedictine rule forbade the consumption of meat.

The fish pond

The main cloister is decorated with an amazing fresco cycle by Luca Signorelli depicting the life of St Benedict. He began this work of 36 large scenes in 1497 and finished in 1508.

The Abbey also includes a late gothic church, a stunning refectory dining room, a large library comprising more than 40,000 volumes and a dispensary.

Visitors can hear the Gregorian chant by the Monks on working days at 18.15 or on holidays at 11.00 and 18.30.

A must visit.

Baci a tutti

Carolyna e Alan

Montalcino- sights, sounds and experiences

Montalcino, in the south of Toscana, is one of the most beutiful hilltop towns in Toscana.

Famous for the world renowned Brunello di Montalcino it also has a long history of fighting adversaries intent on taking control of the town. It was a strong supporter of Siena against Firenze and was the last bastion for the Sienese aristocracy escaping after Siena fell

Below are some pics of the town we love.

From Piazza Cavour, looking toward the centre of Montalcino, a town with 2,500 inhabitants.

Soemtimes very quiet.

Sometimes busy.

The town sits 560 metres above sea level perched above the Val D'orcia.

From Montalcino with Brunello vineyards in the foreground.

Autumn morning with mist over the Val D'orcia.

Montalcino is very rarely covered in mist being so high.

A brunello vineyard surrounded by morning mist.

Beautiful autumn morning.

From Montalcino looking east.

Balcony sitting atop the Val D'orcia.

Flowers and rainbow.

Beautiful autumn morning.

Dinner with Alberto and Barbara.

Dinner at Alberto's house.

Barbara with the pecorino.

Lorenzo and Roberto at dinner. Roberto is a Brunello producer.

At Roberto's vineyard with wife Sandra and Barbara.

Walking up to the house.

Through the vines to the house.

Lunch with Cristian and Claudia at Da Roberto in Montisi.

And...Tatufo (truffle) season with the much prized White truffle.

So bella citta, Montalcino

Baci a tutti

Carolyna e Alan

The Sagra del Tordo - Montalcino

Montalcino relives the Middle Ages with the Sagra on the last weekend in October every year.

A celebration with a procession of the fourteenth century, banquets and food and wine stalls culminating in a spectacular competition between the finest archers of the four districts (quartiere) of the city.

The four quartiere are Borghetto, Pianello, Ruga and Travaglio.

The Sagra del Tordo (Festival of the thrush) celebrates the culmination of the migratory season of birds particularly the thrush which were caught for food by hunters and falconers.

It begins on Saturday morning with the dance "Trescone" costumes typical of the Tuscan countryside in the 19th century. The dance is in the historic centre of Montalcino.

Dancing in the square on Saturday

Two of the dancers

Following the dance a draw takes place for the selection of archers to compete in the ultimate competion. Each district submits three names but only two are drawn to compete. So in fact the best archer may not even get selected.

The draw.

Anxiously waiting the draw result.

On Saturday afternoon the archers selected participate in the "provaccia" or a practice session with the winning team being given no. 1 shooting range in the final and able to nominate the final shoot distance. Borghetto narrowly won that right.

Saturday evening is cena (dinner) in each quartiere

Here is the dinner in Pianello. Very proud and emotional with strong and ofter vocal support for the archers and the quartiere.

And two new Pianello supporters draped in the Pianello colours.

Next day, again after wonderful processions and pagentry, the event culminates in an amazing archery competition. The shooting range is built in the shadow of the rampants of the fortress.

The two archers in each team are subject to time constraints and must shoot in a limited amount of time once the signal is given. The target is a wood target depicting a wild boar.

The competition climaxed on the final shoot of five arrows from 42 metres. The final arrow from Borghetto had to hit the target or else Pianello would win. The Borghetto archer was calm and precise with his arrow hittting the boar.

As soon as this happened the archer sank to the ground with the excited Borghetto supporters rushing to the two archers.

The Borghetto archer is in red at the top of the picture and the Pianello archer in blue next to him.

The fans rush to their victorious archers with the losing archers gracefully leaving the arena.

The Champions

So much emotion and excitement

The winning quartiere celebrates throughout the night. Only their flags are allowed to be flown in the town.

So what a wonderful event. The archery competition is just breathtaking.

Below are some additional scenes from the Sagra.

A young Ruga supporter with dad

The decorative costumes at the Sagra

The Pianello archers with their team captain/coach in the centre. When I asked how much they practice the comment was "they are born into it...they start as children"

The winning Borghetto team (on the Saturday before the event)

Well dear friends more to come soon.

Baci a tutti.

Carolyna e Alan