This morning, we decided to head to one of the other towns in the Val di Chiana region, Monte San Savino.
Monte San Savino is another medieval town located in the province of Arezzo. It is nestled on a ridge overlooking the Chiana Valley, it is known for its rich history, architectural elegance, and contributions to art and culture. “It has Etruscan roots but flourished in the Middle Ages under the influence of the powerful Farnese and Medici families. It became especially notable during the Renaissance, being the birthplace of renowned sculptor and architect Andrea Sansovino (1467–1529), from whom the town partially derives its fame.”
It is a very small town so there was not much to see, but the views of the Tuscan countryside are beautiful. We found a great place for lunch, La Terrasse, where we were seated on a covered patio with wonderful views in the background. I was hoping they’d have a salad of some sort, but no luck, so I chose the pici cacio e pepe and John had a seafood dish with grilled and boiled prawns. Being the helper he is, he also ate half of my pasta as I can only eat so much. We enjoyed a great bottle of wine and then had their version of millefiori with fresh cream and fruit, very yummy!
We headed back to the villa about 2:30 pm and then we both got some work done. I got caught up on laundry as well. Both of us cleaned up and then drank a glass of wine outside while the wind picked up and you could see huge thunder/rain clouds in the distance. We watched as it skirted by us, but did cool things off a lot, which was nice. Dinner was left over chicken and veggies as I was still full from lunch. We got a few games of Rummikub in before calling it a night.
Tomorrow Vance/Michelle/Kristen/Kevin will arrive, and we are looking forward to seeing them all. I’m sure we will find plenty to do!!!! Ciao!
You don’t realize how big/tall these doors are until you stand beside one!I absolutely love the doors!!!A beautiful Renaissance palace entrance that leads into a courtyard. The coat of arms in the top right is a motif tied to Medici-era Tuscany, which helps to date the portal to the 16th century.Heading out into the courtyard.A bust of Andrea Sansovino (Andrea Contucci), the town’s famed Renaissance sculptor.The civic clock tower that fronts Monte San Savino’s town hall. Scattered across the facade are dozens of carved coats of arms. These record the podesta (highest civil official or magistrate) and vicars who served in the town across the centuries – basically a stone roster of past magistrates. Though the clock face is modern, the tower dates to the 13-14th century.The Corso Sangallo, the main street of Monte San Savino. Love the district flags and banners flying!The nave of the Collegiata di San Giovanni Battista (the main parish church). A late-medieval crucifixion fresco, late 1300s-early 1400s.Another beautiful fresco – the upper part is the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the main panel is the Adoration of the Magi.Sant’Agostino, the 14th century Augustinian church. Inside the chapel Sant’ Agostino.A side-chapel niche with doors showcasing a polychrome wooden statue of the Madonna inside the chapel.Layered church history showing centuries of art side-by-side. Lower left niche shows a worn medieval fresco, the center round -topped panel shows a late-medieval fresco and the upper canvas if a much later Baroque oil painting. The side altar on the right is done in stucco/stone with paired columns. Yes, it is a wine dispenser, lol!John’s prawn and shrimp salad. Also lurking in the background, yummy spinach!My fave!This take on a millefiori was sooooo good!!!Our precious little pumpkin Panda – Paola!John chilling with a glass of wine while checking out our daily duck visitor on the roof next door! Also keeping an eye on those clouds as they headed near us!
