Today we drive off into the Tuscan hills to a Benedictine monastery and lunch at Conte Matto in the village of Trequanda. Caroline is en route via Amsterdam to Minneapolis to Austin. Karl is fishing in an Ansterdam canal. We started the day with our regular cappuccini at Politziano.
Cappuccini nel Poliziano
We had a lovely drive through the Tuscan hills with Kurt driving and me navigating. We ended up making an error and turning the wrong way before realizing it. We lost about an hour from our mistake, but we saw isolated hills with sheep, a shepherd, and a sheep dog or wolf. Our time loss would come to hurt us later, however. We arrived at the isolated abbey, which is still home to forty working monks. They did not charge us a fee, although Ali and Sandra had to adjust their outfits with shawls. However, as we were marveling at the fabulous frescoes by Sodoma and Lucca Signorelli, a monk walked the courtyard to ring a bell that they were closing until 3 pm. We were so disappointed because the frescoes were truly amazing in the natural light of the courtyard, in their naturalism and beauty and detail. The cycle tells the life of St.Benedict.
Della Robbia ceramic sculpture
Abbazia. di Monte Oliveto Maggiore
Dress code enforcement
Benedict instructs the contadini (peasants).
Acting as docent
Benedict instructs in the construction of twelve monasteries.
How Benedict Receives the Two Boys from Rome: Maurus and Placid
How the Devil Breaks the Bell
How Benedict Obtains Flour in Abundance and Restores the Monks
How a priest, inspired by God, brings food to Benedict on Easter.
Next we drove to the village of Trequanda to eat at a highly rated Slow Food restaurant. We are on a panoramic terrace, but it was getting a little hot today. The food was fabulous, especially this salad and cheese plate which we all sampled with jams at the end
Pranzo nel Conte Matto
“Warm” Caprese salad. Kurt’s menu said “Worm.”
Formaggi Piatto
Little church of Trequanda. I love the checkerboard facade.
Austrian bicyclists who truly earned their lunch.
Sara, just got a chance, waking up early this morning, to catch up on your blog. It is wonderful. The photos are beautiful (thanks for sharing in my moment of Iphoto crisis!), and your commentary is lovely and concise, not rambling on and on, like mine! I envy that. What an adventure we’ve had – and we still have two more full days. We are blessed.