Monterioggioni

Got a little ahead of myself with my confidence about punching in the right Google destination.   Pretty much flawless unless you forget to cancel the last place you were at, and then Google obligingly takes you south instead of north.  

I no longer care.

We had a lovely visit in Monterioggioni and walked the walls around this  13th century village.  It’s tiny, and our courtyard cafe panini was the size of a football, for 5 euros.  We surreptitiously hid the top of the bun (to throw out later) and munched our way through the filling, washing it down with water.   I kind of felt like I ate a pillow but it was all good, and it was dusted with their very special truffle cream.  Right now it’s mushroom season (fungoli) and there are roadside stands selling aromatic, early truffles everywhere.

Hiking down from the city through yet another olive grove.  

A window through history.  Imagine the iron gates employed to keep out the enemies!

Almost every doorstep has a beautiful wee garden; this one, a cactus in fruit.

View of the wee village from the wall.

It is not difficult to close your eyes while standing on the wall and imagine the battles that ensued some 800 or 900 years ago.  These fortress cities are stalwart and immensely strong, and they have endured for that very reason.

Tomorrow is the day we hit the road, pedal to the metal, all the way to Naples via Roma.  We have checked and rechecked our route and estimated our toll charges.   To leave Tuscany after this rich week is almost unimaginable; but the vistas and adventures ahead are compelling.   Avante!