We stopped at Montepulciano on the way back, and went in. Shouldn't've. Went into a pizzeria with many signs outside advertising their happiness to be of service; no-one paid us the slightest attention. Went out again. Started to go into a ristorante that was 'open', then decided not to waste our time, as the sole person inside it (a staff member) was dragging deeply on a cigarette whilst gazing hypnotically at the TV ...! We took just the one photo, and only for comparison purposes with the one taken 12 years ago. No, Montepulciano has lost it for us, whatever it is/was; its people have become as world-weary as the Venetians, without sufficient justification.
Monday 18th March
Travelling: Montalcino - Sant'Angelo in Colle - Poggio alle Mura - Tavernelle - Montalcino ..........
CS had found in a brochure a strong recommendation to visit Sant'Angelo in Colle, so we did that, too. And it was *really* worth it -- a tiny little hamlet on a hill, with gorgeous views (not counting the smoke) everywhere, a friendly little dog that wanted only to be with us, a MONSTROUS one occupying the entire garden of
Monday 18th March
Travelling: Montalcino - Sant'Angelo in Colle - Poggio alle Mura - Tavernelle - Montalcino ..........
CS had found in a brochure a strong recommendation to visit Sant'Angelo in Colle, so we did that, too. And it was *really* worth it -- a tiny little hamlet on a hill, with gorgeous views (not counting the smoke) everywhere, a friendly little dog that wanted only to be with us, a MONSTROUS one occupying the entire garden of
a house looking down onto the street (but too high up for us to pat, and he was friendly), cats that didn't appear to be feral (or at least not one-eyed !), a promising-looking bar (too full of locals for us to squeeze in), and a mysterious villa that had on its gate the kind of bell you press to get a doorman's attention and a garden obviously meant for mendicants of some kind to skulk about in -- but not one skerrick of identification. Yeah, really nice AND interesting place, Sant'Angelo in Colle ...
Poggio alle Mura was visited on account of CS' determination to see the home of Castello Banfi. Very fine property. Same can be said of all the millions of acres belonging to that label that we had previously and subsequently passed. No wonder this was voted Europe's 'Winery of the Year' last year; difficult to imagine where any other winemaker found room to plant vines ...!
And then some wandering through white roads on the way back, ending with our taking a shot of Montalcino that I've never seen before (I always like to do that !).
Poggio alle Mura was visited on account of CS' determination to see the home of Castello Banfi. Very fine property. Same can be said of all the millions of acres belonging to that label that we had previously and subsequently passed. No wonder this was voted Europe's 'Winery of the Year' last year; difficult to imagine where any other winemaker found room to plant vines ...!
And then some wandering through white roads on the way back, ending with our taking a shot of Montalcino that I've never seen before (I always like to do that !).
