Italian Tour Finale
The sunshine continues to follow us, unlike previous visits where we were dealing with rain day after day. Mind you this is a Judith Cullen 2024 tour and we only have good weather.
Only 3 opted to train to Florence for the day – the rest remaining to go shopping in Lucca and spend time by the pool which was too tempting. After a familiarisation walk in Florence and a late morning prosecco in a bar over the Ponte Vecchio, we spent over 2 wonderful hours in the Ufizzi Gallery. It is truly amazing and the journey through art started from the 12th – 13th Century and it is not only famous for its extensive collection, especially Renaissance art, but the overall experience was phenomenal and made our day. The collection is set in the old Medici offices which have held a gallery since the 16th Century. Today we were lucky and could buy a ticket and visit immediately. However, booking is usually essential.
We had a frustrating slow train trip back to Lucca –but, our happy enthusiastic group welcomed us with a glass of wine. They had helped make Pici pasta with Alessandro and our favouriteMelanzane Parmigiana. Alessandro also gave a cheese-making lesson earlier in the week and we now get to taste the mild soft cheese. The table was set and in no time we were sitting eating another delicious dinner outside on a warm Tuscan evening.
Sometimes all the calculated daily planning doesn’t align. I misunderstood the opening time of our garden visit to Villa Garzoni by an hour, plus the girl opening the gates arrived 10 minutes late. However, we were in the town of Collodi and home to Pinocchio- so we all conveyed our memories of the story and bought some cute souvenirs. The Garden of Villa Garzoni is slowly being restored and as you walked up the steep steps by the once impressive fountain it became more and more derelict. The Villa – still privately owned, was only to be viewed from the outside but portrayed a sad lost look as you tried to imagine it in its former glory with the Garzoni family.
From here we travelled to the Village of Pietrasanta for lunch. It has a rich history and connection to artists due to its proximity to Carrara and the marble mines and still has many workshops and is home to over 50 bronze foundries.
However, today only the restaurants are open. Being so close to the beach of Forte di Marme - I think they are all sunbathing. The shops don’t open until 5 when the town opens up for the evening and I believe it’s great fun with music and loads of people. We did have a very nice seafood salad lunch at a local family trattoria. But most disappointing of all was not being able to drive up through the Carrara marble mines to Colonna – famous for a product called ‘Lardo.’ Unbeknown to our driver the rules had changed and buses were no longer allowed on the road. It was to be a highlight. But most upsetting was that I didn’t book the four-wheel drive tours that I originally intended.
Alesandro’s roast pork, sourced from a local farmer along with crunchy potatoes, stuffed tomatoes and onions and fennel and orange salad, helped make the day end on a high note and the return of Tiramisu by popular demand went down very well.
The final tour day eventually comes around and our Chianti wine tasting and lunch at Terrano Winery set the scene. Federico walked us through the complexity of making Chianto Cassico – a vast improvement on the raffia-covered bottles that many of us grew up with. Lunch was simple – sourced from the kitchen garden and the tomato sauce on the pasta was noticeably elegant and light.
Our day turned out to be exceptionally hot and after a drive through the Chianti villages of Panzano and Castellina in Chianti, the majority opinion was back to the pool for our last swim. Dinner of 5-hour roast chicken with grilled vegetables was predictably amazing and for the last time, we all sat around the outside dining table. Then time for the ghastly packing which for some meant sitting on their suitcases!!
What a journey, what an amazing tour group. Many had to deal with COVID-19, Diaihorea and more. The care and concern of everyone has to be commended not only towards each other but for all the help in the kitchen at the Villa - with setting of tables, serving, dishes and the dreaded teatowels. Life in a Villa for 7 days is a different type of holiday. But its rewards are many – especially in Villa Cara where most luxuriated in vast bedrooms and bathrooms and we all enjoyed the sheer size and elegance in the living areas.
As our group disperses off to more holidaying, visiting friends, exploring Florence or sitting on the bus back to Venice to fly out to NZ, I hope they have 18 days of unforgettable experiences and lifetime memories.
Buon Viaggo