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While on our bike ride in Tuscany, Charlie decided that we should stop by Fattoria Lavacchio, an Agriturismo that a family friend owns. We planned everything so last minute that we didn't think they would have a room available for us, but we still wanted to check out the place and see how the farm has grown since Charlie was last there. To our delight we ran into the owner, Faye as we walked into the restaurant. Despite her hectic schedule, despite having two kids begging for her attention, despite the million of things she had to do, Faye dropped everything and took us straight to her wine cellar for a wine tour.
This is one of Faye's daughters, Sasha. I adored this little munchkin with her beautiful summer skin and sun-kissed curls. Despite my very limited Italian, we got along just fine.
On our second day at Fattoria Lavacchio we took a cooking class. The ingredients we carefully selected from the garden and prepared in a beautiful old kitchen. After our effort we enjoyed our bounty with wine from the vineyards that surrounded us.
Faye is such an amazing host and our time at her place is among our favorite from the trip. What makes it more special is the philosophy of Fattoria Lavacchio. One morning Faye took us on her morning rounds. Each morning she stops at the local farms where she picks up local, organic produce to use on her farm for her guests. Fattatoria Lavacchio is not just about profit, it is about preserving a way of life and the earth that makes that way of life possible.
There is so much to do on the farm, it is hard to take it all in. They do of course make amazing wine and have several beautiful places to stay and a refreshing pool, but it doesn't stop there. There are cooking classes and horse riding, bike riding and cheese tasting. Olive oil tours and the restaurant and tours of the old wind mill. The possibilities are endless.
After tasting a few of the delicious organic wines Faye called the front desk and found that they did indeed have a room available, we decided then and there that we MUST extend our stay in Tuscany. Three days should do.
This is one of Faye's daughters, Sasha. I adored this little munchkin with her beautiful summer skin and sun-kissed curls. Despite my very limited Italian, we got along just fine.
On our second day at Fattoria Lavacchio we took a cooking class. The ingredients we carefully selected from the garden and prepared in a beautiful old kitchen. After our effort we enjoyed our bounty with wine from the vineyards that surrounded us.
Faye is such an amazing host and our time at her place is among our favorite from the trip. What makes it more special is the philosophy of Fattoria Lavacchio. One morning Faye took us on her morning rounds. Each morning she stops at the local farms where she picks up local, organic produce to use on her farm for her guests. Fattatoria Lavacchio is not just about profit, it is about preserving a way of life and the earth that makes that way of life possible.
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Tuscany, round two.
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Ahhhhh Tuscany. Where to begin? This is probably one of my favorite places in Italy. When I was 18 years old I came to Italy with my mom and we spent several days in Tuscany with family friends (the Boscolos). It was amazing. The memories of that time made me anxious to get back to this beautiful, tranquil and soul healing region of the country.
Charlie and I decided that we were ready to stay put for a while, one week in the Rufina region would be just perfect. Our first destination: B&B Podere Belvedere. The above image is the view from our window on the first morning I woke up in Tuscany. Peaceful and lovely.
Charlie and I decided that we were ready to stay put for a while, one week in the Rufina region would be just perfect. Our first destination: B&B Podere Belvedere. The above image is the view from our window on the first morning I woke up in Tuscany. Peaceful and lovely.
One of my favorite things about Podere Belvedere was the animals. They were so sweet and after being away from my own critters for so long I was really needing some animal attention. The rascal shown above is named Attilio. Attilio is a Lagotto Romagnolo, a breed of dog originally from the Romagna sub-region of Italy used to hunt truffles. He is just a few months old so he is learning how to hunt truffles, but his mom was a champion truffle hunter. Attilio will be earning his keep in no time.
The second thing that I loved about our stay at Podere Belvedere was the food!!!! Edwardo and his family are very talented in the kitchen. We had a lunch and a dinner and several breakfasts with them. The food was amazing and many of the ingredients were sourced right from their little farm.
The second thing that I loved about our stay at Podere Belvedere was the food!!!! Edwardo and his family are very talented in the kitchen. We had a lunch and a dinner and several breakfasts with them. The food was amazing and many of the ingredients were sourced right from their little farm.
Our lunch was a simple pesto pasta, but it was amazing! The pesto was made with walnuts and hazelnuts rather than the traditional pine nuts and the basil was pulled fresh from the garden.
The dinner we had was to die for. Simple, fresh, amazing. This was the starter, I didn't get any other pictures of the dinner, I was too busy wiping up the puddle of drool developing under my chin. The dark bundles on the right were enough to convince me to give up the fight and move into Podere Belvedere permanently. Plums stuffed with cheese and pine-nuts wrapped in lard (the white part of prosciutto) and then grilled. He could have stopped there and I would have thought the dinner was worth it.
The dinner we had was to die for. Simple, fresh, amazing. This was the starter, I didn't get any other pictures of the dinner, I was too busy wiping up the puddle of drool developing under my chin. The dark bundles on the right were enough to convince me to give up the fight and move into Podere Belvedere permanently. Plums stuffed with cheese and pine-nuts wrapped in lard (the white part of prosciutto) and then grilled. He could have stopped there and I would have thought the dinner was worth it.
And for dessert: Vin Santo and biscotti. Vin Santo is an Itlaian dessert wine and the traditional way to enjoy it is by dipping a biscotti in the wine. Delicious!
Charlie and I decided on our second day that it would be a good idea to go for a bike ride. The hills pretty much destroyed us, but it was great to get out and move a little. It was time to try to work off some of that pasta!!
Podere Belvedere was built in the 13th century. It is hard to even fathom what life was like back then. Podere Belvedere gives a little peek into the past.
As I was exploring the garden I came across the most curious looking little creatures. They were like a cross between a humming bird and a butterfly. I was captivated by them for at least half an hour.
Edwardo and family, thank you so much for your hospitality. We had a wonderful time with you and hope to come back again. Give Attilio a scratch on the belly for me!
randy:
Gorgeous pics, Sara!!!
Wish we could be there, too!
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Rome was brief, but pretty darn fantastic. The first night we wandered around the city, visited the Spanish steps and purchased my new favorite shoes. Dinner was pizza and wine. Not a bad first evening.
On the way back to our hotel we stopped at Trevi Fountain. Legend has it that a coin into the fountain will lead to a new romance. It just so happens that I threw a coin into the fountain before meeting Charlie. We shared a kiss in front of the fountain as a thank you.
Our accommodation was interesting in Rome. We went from staying at the best hotel of our trip (thank you to starwood points) to the worst hotel of our trip back to back. The first night we stayed at the Westin Excelsior the luxury five star hotel on the fashionable Via Veneto. We watched Italy get tossed out of the world cup in the hotel bar while enjoying our 8 euro fruit juice. The room was gorgeous. We had a balcony and a bathtub big enough to get lost in. I rewarded my abused feet to a nice long bubble bath while Charlie took a call for work.
The second night we stayed at Fawlty Towers, a youth hostel. The shower didn't work, the toilet didn't flush, the bed was lumpy and the walls were paper thin. But, there was a free breakfast and a lovely terrace and kitchen to use.
Our accommodation was interesting in Rome. We went from staying at the best hotel of our trip (thank you to starwood points) to the worst hotel of our trip back to back. The first night we stayed at the Westin Excelsior the luxury five star hotel on the fashionable Via Veneto. We watched Italy get tossed out of the world cup in the hotel bar while enjoying our 8 euro fruit juice. The room was gorgeous. We had a balcony and a bathtub big enough to get lost in. I rewarded my abused feet to a nice long bubble bath while Charlie took a call for work.
The second night we stayed at Fawlty Towers, a youth hostel. The shower didn't work, the toilet didn't flush, the bed was lumpy and the walls were paper thin. But, there was a free breakfast and a lovely terrace and kitchen to use.
Our second day in Rome took us to the Colosseum. Charlie and I had both been to Rome before but never into the Colosseum, now was the time.
Charlie posing with the Gladiators. He had to stand a full two steps below them to they could reach his shoulders. It turns out that gladiators were a bit on the short side.
Our next stop... Tuscany!! Word to the wise: just because you purchase a ticket on a train in Italy does not mean that you have a seat on said train. Charlie and I rode on the floor of the train all the way to Rufina.
Felicia:
How in the world were you able to get a picture of the Trevi Fountain without any people in it? Usually there are swarms of people all around it.
(07.08.10)
Anonymous:
Brings back memories taking the train to Naples. We experienced a similar situation. Big difference between the train in Germany and Italy. Thanks again for all the pictures, so happy you ad Charlie are creating so many memories.
(07.08.10)
Sara Atkins:
Trains in Italy have been...a challenge. Luckily my train travel is mostly over, phew!
(07.12.10)
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Our trip to Pompeii was pretty amazing. Pompeii was a vibrant commercial city in its day and the entire town was destroyed by mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The volcanic ash preserved the city and when it was finally discovered (in 1600) and excavated (much of it is still being excavated) the story of the city began to unfold.
This is a dramatized scene from Pompeii: The Last Day. This is not my image (obviously) it was borrowed from Wikimedia Commons.
This is a dramatized scene from Pompeii: The Last Day. This is not my image (obviously) it was borrowed from Wikimedia Commons.
This is the first view of the town that we had before going on a tour. Some of the city walls are covered in ancient graffiti. My favorite: (House
of Caecilius Iucundus): Whoever loves, let him flourish. Let him
perish who knows not love. Let him perish twice over whoever forbids
love.
There are ruts in the streets from where the many carts traveling through the city streets.
There are also stone blocks in the street for pedestrians to step onto
to cross the street. The sidewalks are higher than the modern sidewalk
because the streets had water and waste flowing through them. The stone
blocks in the street were also as high as the sidewalk, so people did
not walk in the waste and water. The stone blocks were also used for
what we now call speed bumps. When the carriages were going through the
city, they were going fast. To avoid people from getting splashed by
the water and waste they had stone blocks in the street. This would
make the driver slow down when they were speeding, so they could get
through the blocks.
Apollo statue with Mount Vesuvius behind.
Many of the relics (including bodies) have been moved to a museum in Naples. The few that are left in Pompeii are chilling.
This is a view of a window from inside the bath house, this is where many of the bodies were found. Apparently the citizens of the city thought that they might be protected by the bath house, they were wrong. Although, the bath house did serve as an excellent way to preserve their remains.
The Forum, where many of the official buildings of the city would have been here.
The house of the tragic poet (Casa del Poetica Tragico) named for its mosaics. This is one of the more well known mosaics 'Cave Canem' (Beware of the Dog) it is at the entrance of the house.
A mosaic from the House of the Vettii, one of the best maintained houses in Pompeii.
This is an image of the Arcaded Court which was the barracks for the Gladiators. We were told that women were not aloud in this area, however there was the body of a woman found on the steps leading to the barracks and the body of a gladiator chained in the barracks. Perhaps she was trying to save him...
This is an image of the Arcaded Court which was the barracks for the Gladiators. We were told that women were not aloud in this area, however there was the body of a woman found on the steps leading to the barracks and the body of a gladiator chained in the barracks. Perhaps she was trying to save him...
The vineyard watch dog.
Imported and locally produced wine was a popular commodity in Pompeii. The fertile soil of Vesuvius and the climate of the region provided the ideal conditions for the growing of grapes. Many of the types of vine cultivated were not found anywhere else on the Italian peninsula.
Dd:
Nice little history lesson in photos. Wish there were more!
(07.07.10)
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Arriving in Naples at 6:30 am was a bit of a shock. We knew that the city would be a bit dirty, but we took on look and jumped on the first train out of there. Next stop: Sorrento.
We decided that after our non-stop tour of Sicily we were ready to stay in one place for a little while. We booked a room for four nights in Sorrento (known for it's lemoncello). We found a lovely little family run bed and breakfast and decided to use it as a base as we explored the Amalfi coast. We spent four days walking through lemon orchards, sipping cafes, walking through bougainvillea covered streets, and of course watching the world cup. We relaxed, we explored.
Ravi:
Love the pics Sara and hearing about your trip!!! Wish I was there!!!!
(07.04.10)
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Can't wait to see more pictures! The windmill shot is WOW. Tell Mariangela's family hi for us. We hope to get back there yet.
(07.15.10)Your images make me miss Tuscany so much! Awesome windmill shot. :)
(07.15.10)Dear Sara,
(07.15.10)It was just great to meet you. Hope to see you both very soon.
Faye
Oh my goodness, I am so jealous of your trip! Looks amazing and gorgeous and everything I could have imagined it would be.
(07.16.10)