The Villa was an experience - staying in a time capsule - of a historic lifestyle - with plumbing!
Front Door~
We slept in, tired from our late night on the town. We'd had fog on a couple mornings during our stay, but it burned off quickly.
View of the entry from our room~
It was such an enjoyable feeling to rise, walk to the big window, open the shutters & admire such a stately view. Almost like a princess in a castle.
Old Planters & scented germaniums~
After a shower, my usual routine was to make my tea & head outside. So nice to just sit & sip & drink in the beauty of the rolling hills. There was a beautiful Villa on the far side of the valley with a tower.
Late afternoon~
I had the zoom at it's maximum aperture, but the photo turned out looking almost like a painting with the evening haze. I would have loved to have toured it.
Large meeting room~
This amazing room was down the first flight of stairs from our room & one flight up from the kitchen level. To the right was a large office, with an antique doll house on display.
Left, 3 steps up to a landing, then 15 more to our room.
The door on the far right, led down 15 steps to the kitchen. I never did count the rooms in the Villa, but there was one more small level at the very top that must have had the best of views. I think it was on the Saturday tour.
Etched glass~
I wandered around, looking in rooms that I hadn't checked out before. One was set up as a day room, which is where I found the ornate window panes.
Stairs to our room~
The final flight of stairs to our room & our door! I think originally the concrete must have been covered with a rug runner. The entire Villa seemed somewhat bare & cold feeling. The opulence that I'd hoped to see was probably there originally with more textiles & rugs.
Wall between the Villa patio area & the pool~
The large stone wall that supported the upper level from the pool, was impressive. There was a path under a small grape arbor & through the gate below.
Iron Gate
The craftsmanship again - was just stunning - highlighted against the colors of the old brick & mortar.
From the pool deck~
I think it must have been a very dry year, or maybe it's just typical for so late in the summer. The grape arbor is to the right.
Hunting dogs~
The picture above was good sized & hung in our room. I enjoyed it so much! What a wonderful rendition of happy hunting dogs!
Crystal Sphere~
Courtney had bought the crystal sphere to try out on the trip. They come in a variety of sizes. I'd never seen one, but we sure had fun trying it out. We also discussed moving on. We'd paid through Sat. night - but really didn't have any interest in final events on the schedule. When Stephania came to prepare dinner, we asked her about other places to go & she mentioned Livorno.
Late Afternoon view~
Livorno was only a few hours south by train, Courtney started searching for reservations. No luck. Everything four-star or above was full. I started researching beaches to the south of Livorno & discovered a blue flag beach at Cecina. Courtney in the meantime had thought of looking for an Air B&B. We found one available only a ten-min. walk from the coast!
The plan was made, we'd leave in the morning & spend the rest of our time in Cecina! We were really looking forward to seeing the coast on the western side of the Italian Peninsula!
Another sunny & warm pleasant day in Tuscany. After lunch, Courtney & I caught a lift to town to do our laundry. One load each - I bought one package of liquid detergent. Deciding to err on the side of caution, I poured in a tiny bit. Good thing - as there were plenty of suds in seconds. We finished up just in time to meet our companions at the train station. Reservations were set for dinner in Florence, at 7:30 p.m.
Grand Hotel Minerva~
It seemed as though we were walking through the set of a movie & felt a little that way too. The tone of the city had changed. From yesterday's hustle & bustle to this evening's hush. Tables were being put out, people seated & ordering wine.
Early evening~
The shops were an interesting & varied assortment - each window display vied with the next. Almost any type of item you can imagine must be here - somewhere!
Dinnerware~
The Bison in the leather shop had to be my personal favorite!
Bison!
The clothing was amazing!
Beaded dresses~
A golden Alligator head? On my wish list for sure - not.
Anyone want one?
We were walking along, watching our step on the uneven stones of a narrow street. Suddenly, I heard the sound of steel shoes on stone! Loud! Echoing off the high walls of the buildings behind & around us! Incredibly loud & getting louder by the second! A shod horse in a fast, very fast trot! By the time I turned & pulled out the camera, he was right on top of us! I'd seen him once before yesterday, quietly pulling a buggy for tourists. Tonight though - this was a horse on a mission! Doing every bit of a 12 mph trot - it was obviously time for home & dinner!
A working horse!
Many of the doorways had small lanterns, glowing gold in the deepening shade at street level. The doors were mostly rich, carved, thick wood. The perfect feeling of old world charm.
Entries~
Many people were walking along the river, at a slower, more relaxed pace. A popular spot for photos too. The river flowed so slowly, it was smooth as a lake & a perfect mirror.
Arno River~
Everywhere you looked, ornate workmanship met your eye. The feet below were on a light post along the bridge rail.
Light post base~
We crossed to the far side of the bridge into another area of high end shops. At the crest of a small hill, directly across from several jewelry establishments, were two guards armed with both side arms & automatic weapons.
Lots of Jewelry~
My mother always loved jewelry & loved shopping for it. She would have been so excited to have shopped here. On one of our last day trips to Lyons, CO, Mom bought a ring for me & one for herself. I wore the one that had been hers, on the trip.
Florence & the Arno~
We found a street side restaurant with enough empty table space for everyone to find seats. We were ready for a glass of wine & water - before time for our dinner reservation. I tried my first Spritz. Really refreshing & with ICE! Ice at all in drinks - seems to be a rarity in Italy. Our timing was perfect & by the time we'd finished our drinks, it was time for dinner.
Such a social country~
Again, the food in Italy is so good! We used Google Translate to decipher our menu's. Even if we weren't quite sure what we'd ordered - it didn't matter - it was all good!
Socializing~
By the time we'd finished, the sun had just set. The remaining light reflected off the walls of the buildings & the air felt rich with color. We walked & talked, soaking in the experience & the place.
Sunset~
Dark came quickly, the lights added a surreal golden glow to the historic setting. It was amazingly quiet too. Low voices, no cars & the beauty of a Florence night.
As we walk the city~
One of our group had attended graduate school in Florence & shared some interesting stories of her experiences. No one wanted the evening to end, but we had a train to catch.
Arno at night~
We crossed back over the bridge, on our return to the train station.
The glow~
It was totally magical - a magical city in an amazing country. To think that I hadn't thought I'd mind if I'd missed the trip! Italy hadn't been on any of my bucket lists. Courtney had to do so much convincing, to get me to even think about going. But now, here we were, enjoying every minute of the experience.
We spend the morning relaxing. I took notes about our trip, while others painted. A beautiful place - easy to imagine the life style of the family - from several centuries ago. So utterly different - with a feel entirely it's own. The group decided that it would be a good day to take the train to Florence. We bought tickets from the machine inside the small station. It was only about a half-hour ride into Florence. I had no idea what to expect - but grand is the first word that comes to mind.
Train Station at Rignano~
Our goal was the public market for lunch & shopping - with sightseeing along the way. Totally unfamiliar with international travel, let alone Europe, I was impressed. Seeing pictures is so different from actually being there. Something I knew - but didn't fully recognize. The narrow streets prevent all the vehicle traffic that clogs American cities.
Walking the streets~
I think there were eleven of us on this day. We played follow the leader to a bank. One of our group mentioned not using the smaller cash machines - that could be easily moved - with possibly your card information inside. Instead we found a stone & mortar bank with Europe's version of an ATM in the lobby. Now, how to use the machine? It was a case of how many people does it take to figure out which keys to press? Lucky for us all - a wonderful gentleman came by; introduced himself as having lived in New York City & walked us through the process step by step!
This building was just a short distance from the Train Station. Stunning both architectural style & incredible detail.
Overpowering in their grandeur~
It was like walking through an art museum of huge, colorful oil paintings. In the background you can just see the Duomo~ The lines to enter are long & we wanted to see more of the city.
Booths at the Market
We were also - starved! We found the indoor market, the smell of food would have taken us there - if nothing else! On the second floor were picnic style tables with vendor booths all around. A few of us held a large table, while the remainder went to search out food. I was glad I'd waited, because once they returned, we could see some of the enormous variety available.
Pasta - the Italian staple~
Courtney & I decided to divide & conquer. She went for drinks, I went for food. I'd seen some type of a stuffed bread that looked delicious. I found the booth! You had a choice of squid, ham, or zucchini. I decided on one each of the ham & zucchini & cheese. The outer dough was golden brown with a crust something like cornbread. On the counter, was a stack of what looked like cannoli shells. I asked about them? The proprietress took one, broke a piece off, filled it with something white & handed it to me. Oh YES! I had to have one of those! I'm now a die-hard fan of Cannoli!
Scaffolding~
After lunch, we planned to take the double-decker bus tour to the Abby of San Miniato al Monte. These busses pull up outside the train station & just as we arrived, one left. Thinking we'd literally missed the bus, another pulled in within minutes.
The Arno River was quietly flowing by - so picturesque.
Just for "scale"
It was hard not to be impressed when the bus stopped at a light & I looked up to see the huge tower above. I've yet to find out it's history. Soon, we were climbing up off the main streets of the city & through an area with huge trees.
Through the trees~
The homes were beautiful, stately & immaculately maintained. We disembarked at the Piazzale Michelangelango - to the sight of one of the replica's of David.
David~
Against a sky full of thunderheads - it was a majestic sight even placed in the middle of a parking lot. Just a short walk further, we came to the stairs leading to the San Miniato Monte Bisilica.
Climbing the steps~
Imposing, more imposing the higher we climbed.
San Miniato al Monte
Considered one of the most scenic in Tuscany - it was easy to see why.
Cathedral interior~
Many pictures have been taken of the interior. It's impossible to appreciate the scope or size. The marble columns were massive, I had to touch one. Sadly, over the years graffiti had been etched into the pillars as high a people could reach.
Walking out, I took the walkway past the bell tower to the cemetery. Tucked into the hillside, it had a feeling of quiet serenity. The burial place of Pinocchio's author. The variety of the monuments was amazing, as was the artistic talent that went into creating them.
Looking north~
With the thunderheads billowing overhead & a light breeze, it was an incredible day to be in a place of such religious significance. As I was walking the grounds, I found a flat piece of marble, almost like a puzzle piece laying on the stone of the walkway. I picked it up & continued on. Around a corner I looked down & found the spot where the piece fit.
From the plaza area - the views were just breathtaking. The overcast & light wind added to the surreal allure. It was as though I was standing in a place where time stood still...
I had to zoom in to get Arnolfo Tower. It's unique look was so distinguishing. Returning to the bus stop - we caught the last one before the end of the day's tour schedule. A Gelato vender had the perfect spot for a quick stop. Gelato is now my new favorite for cold, creamy deliciousness!
Our Tour Bus Route~
The Garmin recorded our route for the day - on foot & by bus.
The video above - was on our way back to the station. I sat on top, at the front & put the camera on a padded grab bar. The streets actually look wider in the video! Pedestrians went about their business totally unconcerned. I saw one guy on his bike, with earbuds & eating a sandwich! Small cars are the norm & scooters were everywhere! It was fun to see all the cars come to a stop at an intersection, the scooters catch up, coast to the front & be first off when the light changed!
The sun was setting as we returned to the train station. We bought our tickets & climbed aboard one of the smaller commuter trains. From the hill, this view gave me a grand overall feel for the city. What a magnificent place!
