2011 Tuscany Trip


Photos 1 – 137 out of 137 | Back to Albums
Name of our room at Hotel Alexander in Lucca Italy, Name of Aleta and Des hotel room in Lucca. FOOD ... as soon as we arrived after plane to Rome and Train to Lucca ... The wall around Lucca. Dinner at the Osteria Enotecca Sotto ie Fonti. What an amazing restaurant. Simply Tuscan and fabulous. This is a wall in the Duomo in Lucca. See how white the restored section is compared to the section right next to it that is charcoal in color. On the steps of the Duomo in Lucca. The Leaning Tower of Pisa. In this photo you can see the Baptistry, the Duomo and the leaning bell tower. Aleta and Vic Vic and me ... Aleta and I just finished a cooking class and met the boys in Pisa. Des and Aleta The Duomo thru a window in the Baptistry. That is the Tower behind the Duomo. Inside the Duomo. The Baptistry. Inside the Baptistry. Emma ... I didn't know you were a restauranteur!!! Aleta and Des in a restaurant that used to be used as a cellar to store wood. FABULOUS food at Canine Bernardini. Hard to find but oh so worth it. Aleta and are still can taste the Bruscetta. http://www.cantinebernardini.com/ Vic and Lisa ... believe it or not I forgot to take food photos we were so hungry that night and the food was amazing. http://www.cantinebernardini.com/ On the Train to Sienna ... On the train to Sienna. Great space for advertising! ... in the cab... Our hotel in Sienna. This converted palace is still owned by the same 18th Century Family. The room and the key ... with a tassel ... you leave it at the front desk when you leave the hotel. Way to big and heavy to tote around town. Our bathroom. El Campo Piazza in Sienna. We were starving again! ... checked in and headed straight to the food! YAY ... Fabulous Margarita Pizza ... finally! The garden at our hotel. The view from the garden. Looking back at the hotel in the garden. another view ... Garden room Alley in Sienna. Vic checking out the Gelato! Fresh Fruit... The store ... The butcher shop. Do you want some? I think YES! The Duomo in Sienna. Inside the Duomo. The marble is black and white... the colors of Sienna ... mmmm ... I like that! St. Catherines preserved HEAD ... yes HEAD on display in the Duomo. Another View in the Duomo. A room in the Duomo that has the right humidity to preserve these unrestored Frescos. The colors were amazing. 15th Century!!! Preserved Music in the same room. Close up of one of the sheets of music. Lovin' these doors.... both Baroque and Gothic design. Peek a boo ... a Fresco on the ceiling of an apartment in Sienna. Another Door. Des and Aleta check out a gym in Sienna. The Gym entrance. Pici with Fava beans... oh my oh my ... I can still taste it at La Compagnia dei Vinattieri Aleta and Des ... he is not happy yet because he has not found Cannelloni yet. But the food was great at La Compagnia dei Vinattieri here is info on Trip Advisor. http://bit.ly/muEAXb Vic and me at La Compagnia dei Vinattieri. Dinner at a Michelin rated restaurant ... La Taverna di San Giuseppe ... Stunning frescos and ceilings and cellar. Asparagus Souffle with Béchamel sauce ... Delectable! Grilled Artichokes! Need I say more? ok .. YUM! In the cellar which was an Etruscan Chapel at one time. Lisa and Aleta. Another Door... Off to our Chianti Wine Tour... starting at San Felice Winery. In one of the Vineyards. Aleta in the Vineyard. Aleta and I fell in love with the Cypress Trees. Part of the San Felice Winery and Relais Hotel and resort ... Part of the winery and hotel. The Casks. They were huge! Little grapes are showing up. The Tasting Room. On the Property. On the Property. Yet another door ... mmm... see a trend? In another cellar Here is THE table ... seats 80 for wine tasting/dinners in the cellar. another door ... At a Castle and Winery. Another view of the castle.. This castle had a private chapel that was all Mosaics. Absolutely stunning. Beautiful Gardens and countryside surround the castle. More Vineyards. Aleta, Lisa and Vic. Des rented a scooter and was gone all day exploring. Tuscan Lunch... so fresh and fabulous. Also had soup that was amazing. Another door ... trust me I have not posted all the doors and food pix that I took!!! Courtyard of another winery. A truly Tuscan kitchen that is still used at this winery and summer home. A Marble Sink. Lisa and Aleta with our tour guide and chef, Gina Stipo. Check out her website http://www.eccolacucina.com/ Will definitely be taking her cooking class next time in Tuscany. She actually comes to the states and does classes for Publix in Tampa ... can you say ... ROAD TRIP! Vic and his Lemon Tree! Another view of the Kitchen... Aleta's and my new favorite white wine, Vermentino...and by this wine maker as we tried others as well. ;-) Gorgeous door to the Meleto Castle. Unrestored Stage in the Castle. Yes ... another door... This is a large Ravioli! My new favorite pizza. Panchetta, mozzarella, tomato and arugula. Des brought this postcard back of a castle he saw that is a must see next trip. Last night in Sienna ... getting ready to go out to dinner. Lisa and Vic Our restaurant ... Antica Osteria da Divo and very very good. http://www.osteriadadivo.it/eng/chi-siamo.htm Rolled zucchini filled with roasted sweet peppers and mozzarella, polenta tart on peas cream. Browned Scallops with orange bread,fried onions and fresh watercress. Gnocchi that was unbelievable. Potatoes dumpling,with chives and Gorgonzola cheese fondue,served in a basket of Parmisan chips and toasted pine-nuts. Hand-rolled Senese pasta, Wild-Boar ragù, rosemary crouch bread ... really really good! AH ... a very happy man ... he got his cannoli in Sienna finally .... they don't make it here because it is a Sicilian dessert.... who knew! Pistaccius cannoli filled with berries cream and raspberry sauce. Night time walking. yep ... another door ! Winery tour ... my most favorite.. at Casamonti Winery. They have a fabulous Chianti Classico and Olive Oil. The grounds were gorgeous ... Out door grill and cabana with huge table made from a fallen tree. Wine Tasting Buliding Iris in bloom all over Casamonti. Cinta Senese Pigs: Casamonti owners are among those that helped save this race from extinction. Today they are the largest breeder in the Siena area and produce and age the traditional Tuscan products: prosciutto, salami, finocchiona - all certified. I thought it was interesting that Anna Rita told us that these pigs are not fed soy beans because most soybeans crops world wide are GMO and that would cause defects in the pigs. Now if pigs shouldn't eat them ... we humans might take a deeper look at all GMO food ourselves! Just sayin' ... http://www.cintasenese.blogspot.com/ After processed they are in this refrigerator for 30 days. They they are moved to the next refrigerator and cured for several months. Anna Rita in the cure room with other cuts of pig. The olive oil jugs fresh from being pressed ... Processing and bottling and labeling. Vic getting the low down from Anna Rita, who I just adore. We got home and now Vic wants Olive Trees too! Anna Rita Diegoli and her husband Raymond Lamothe own Tuscan Enterprises and have quite the extensive catalog of Real Estate all over Italy for rent. http://www.tuscanenterprises.com/index.php At our amazing wine tasting. After our tour, we came back and the table was set with fresh sliced tomatoes with her olive oil poured over it, 4 different Bruscettas, Procuitto & one other type bacon, potato salad with parsley & olive oil and 3 wine tastings!!! Their Chiani Classico is amazing as is their Olive Oil ... you can only get from Italy ... so our shipment is on its way. So ... recap ... Anna Rita (and her hubby) does wines, honey, pig, olive oil, olive soaps, B&B on the Winery Estate, Real Estate all over Italy ...and is adding Cooking School to that list! When I grow up I wanna be just like her! <grin> Casamonti is in the middle of installing a commercial kitchen for cooking classes ... we got a sneak peek ... do you think we will come back? Yup! A chapel in one of the towms we visited. Me on the wall .... Aleta on the Wall of a medieval town. The center of the town which is inside the castle walls of Moneriggioni (thanks April) ... Vic is waiting in the Van with our tour guide. On the train again ... back to Rome ... My seat mate! Don't you love the new suitcase Aleta bought ... aqua shell above our heads. I snagged Des' old one to haul my Christmas gifts home ... he was NOT amused! Isn't he the cutest? xoxoxo YAY ... I made it to Campo di Fiori in Rome to get my spices in bulk. Spices, spices spices ... bought my 3 favorites. Now that is a large beer! Italian beer... with Borsalino hat and Gucci Sunglasses! Penne Arrabiatta. Magnifico ... especially since I was eating it in a restaurant in Piazza Navona ... my favorite Piazza in Rome. Zucchini Risoto with Prawn and Zucchini Flower. AWWWWWHHHH! FINALLY a really REALLY happy man ... Sicilian Canoli in Roma!Photos 1 – 137 out of 137 | Back to Albums
Location: Lucca, Pisa and Sienna Italy

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