Our hike to Pienza began in Bagno Vignoni where we stopped at the small simple church on the lake.
From there we hiked up through fields and forested paths. The flowering plant sulla grows throughout this part of Tuscany and we tasted its edible red bloom. It is not a clover but it reminds me of our crimson clover because it grows along the sides of the road. And, once again the views were spectacular. The cypress trees lining roads up to villas are so typical and I love the misty mountains in the background.
Lunch today was at an agriturismo where we tasted their locally grown vegetables: panzanella (bread salad) made with red beets and topped with sliced truffles, herbed ricotta topped bitesized zucchini boats, a tasty vegetable pie, herb salad in a jar, sliced beef over lightly pickled cucumbers, and freshly made focaccia bread. We gathered outside under a tree and tried to spot the pheasants whose raspy call we could hear.
The renaissance town of Pienza was the first to be redesigned as a “planned” town by architect Bernardo Rossellino in the late fifteenth century. Pope Pius II was born in the Tuscan town and he hired Rossellino to transform his birthplace. Rossellino applied the principles of his mentor, Leon Battista Alberti, a humanist thinker and architect. The stone town overlooks the Val d’Orcia (valley of the Orcia river) and is full of small specialty shops along cobblestone streets.
After our 7 mile hike up and down these rolling hills we shuttled back to our hotel, Posta Marcucci and rested a bit before our final evening with Backroads. We sat near the mineral spring pools, toasted each other and the trip with prosecco. This trip, for me, was special in a large part because of the people. We were all around retirement age and enjoyed being outside, learning and seeing new things. Each of us brought a different perspective and everyone respected and enjoyed being together. Our leaders went above and beyond to be sure we all were having fun. And, spending this time with my friend, Joy, I will always treasure.
Next morning: Before heading to Florence we hiked up to Vignoni Alto and back (about 2.5 miles). This pristine village on the very top of a mountain has 28 residents (and 3 cats). Each of the stone buildings was more charming than the next–plenty of flowers and grapevines like this above many of the entryways. It would be a lovely getaway.
Joy and I are headed to Florence for the next leg of our journey.
Nancy
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