Lago di Garda

Lake Garda (Lago di Garda ) is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in Northern Italy near Verona. It was formed by glaciers in the last ice age. Being easily accessible from the north via the Brenner Pass, the lake is a major tourist destination for northern Europeans, including a number of exclusive hotels and resorts along its shore.

The southern part of Lake Garda is easily accessible also and is a popoular destination in summer. The southern part of the lake is the widest and most accessible to tourists whilst the noth is narrower and deeper with higher mountains and deeper waters to a maximum depth of 360 metres

The south eastern town of Bardolino looking north is a popular tourist destination

With many classical villas

And beautiful promenades

And just north is Garda, the town after which the lake was named

Ciao a tutti

Carolyna e Alan

Monte Oliveto

A wonderful abbey in the Crete Sinesi area not far from Buonconvento near Montalcino is Monte Oliveto. A working Abbey it is full of amazing Frescoes of the life of Saint Benedict.

The entrance to the grounds of the abbey. The Abbey of Monte Oliveto (Mount of Olives) Maggiore is a large Benedictine monastery about 30 minutes north east of Montalcino.  Over the entrance arch is a terracotta depicting Madonna with child and two angels attributed to the Della Robbia family, as well as the St. Benedict Blessing nearby.

Saint Benedict blessing all arrivals from the other side of the entrance. The abbey was built in the 14th century and is perched on the crest of a hill. It opened in 1320

Walking down toward the abbey from the entrance. It is surrounded by extensive lands which are used for agriculture and viticulture.

At the end of the descent is the bell tower, in Romanesque - Gothic style, and the apse of the church, which has a Gothic façade.

On entering the abbey you come to the Chiostro Grande ("Great Cloister"). It is designed on a rectangular plan and was realized between 1426 and 1443.  Under the vaults of the cloister are frescoes of the Life of St. Benedict painted by Luca Signorelli and Il Sodoma, considered amongst the most important Renaissance artworks in Italy.

The frescoes disposition follows St. Gregory's account of Benedict's life. Signorelli's paintings were executed in 1497-98, while Sodoma's date to 1505 afterwards.

As a working abbey it has the neccessities of life. Here is the dining room ready for lunch

The ceiling of the dining room with amazing frescoes

For washing hands at the entrance to the dining room.

Amazing frescoes on the wall of the dining room.

The library, which has a basilica plan with a nave and two aisles divided by columns with Corinthian capitals (1518). Nearby is the Monastic Library, housing some 40,000 volumes. From the library is the access to the Pharmacy, housing, in 17th century vases, a collection of medicinal herbs.

 

A monk preparing the tables for lunch

The grand square inside the abbey

Inside the church adjoining the abbey

One of the many alters of the church

From the Abbey leading down into the wine cellars

Fine wine maturing in large oak barrels

Monte Oliveto is a must see in Southern Tuscany. It is in amazing condition.

Ciao

Alan e Carolyna

Sunday lunch inTuscany

We have always loved Sunday lunches in Italy. Full of families, friends and laughter.

So last Sunday a special friend invited us over to her vineyard just outside the town of Montalcino. Her wine label is Aglietta

Here we are with Patrizia, Alan and Richard just relaxing under a canopy of vines.

Richard, Carolyna and Patrizia. Patrizia is a wonderful cook and owns a fabulous vineyard just outside Montalcino.

Entrance into Patrizia's house

and a leisurely drive after lunch past the sunflower fields

and the rolling Tuscan hills

A beautiful summers day....it doesn't get any better than this.

Ciao a tutti

Carolyna e Alan

Italian Restaurant - Montalcino - Boccon di Vino

If you want a genuine family restaurant, steeped in tradition with wonderful Tuscan food then Boccon di Vino just outside the town of Montalcino is it. 

The views are the best I have seen from a restaurant overlooking the beautiful Tuscan Valley of Val D'Orcia

The menu is typical Tuscan with favourites including Pinci and Cinghiale



We went there on a balmy Friday night in July

The setting is just fabulous for the romantic couple or the larger groups

It has a fabulous wine list with classic Brunello from current and early vintages. Here is the page with the father of Brunello, Biondi Santi

We selected a San Polo 2007 which was expertly opened and served

And of course not forgetting the food which was very good. We especially appreciated the aged pecorino with the Brunello

So ciao from Montalcino and Toscana

Carolyna e Alan