Next throw in some hallmarks of Tuscany's beauty - medieval castles, high walls, narrow paths and connecting tunnels of the fortified villages. Thick stone walls with small windows and arches covered with ivy and other flowing plants. Trees taking on their autumn colours, horse chestnuts covering the ground.
Most of the medieval villages we visited are perched on the top of the highest ridge or hilltop in the area and being are quite close to one another are easily visible from most parts in the surrounding area.
With the increase in tourism, many of the buildings have harmoniously evolved into cafes, restaurants and bars.
These villages that exist today have withstood centuries of conflict including the Barbarians who brought down the Roman Empire in the late 400s, endless contests between Tuscan fiefdoms and incessant wars during the Middles Ages and the Renaissance. During these wars the owners of theses castles rebuilt walls and towers and astonishingly, for all that patching and reconstruction during these harrowing centuries, a love of beauty endured.
Peace finally came to Chianti in the 1500s and castles were rebuilt as villas and the wealthy commissioned country villas on large acreages.
A traditional economic system of sharecropping followed - the aristocracy owned the land and the peasants produced (amongst other things) olives, cheese and wine. This system came to an end after WW2.
Eventually many abandoned farmhouses were converted into vacation retreats.
One of the lovely aspects of the region is the way the farm buildings disappear into the landscape of silvery olive groves, light green grape vines and dark green forests of cyprus, oak and umbrella trees.
Did we mention the steep and narrow winding roads?
The hilltop villages disappear and reappear after a few kilometres. Our first hire car (R broke it) was an Audi A1 which handled very nicely through the picturesque hills and valleys.
We stayed in the nearest thing to heaven during our time in Tuscany. The villa is called Podere La Rota.
Podere La Rota is situated near the village of Moncioni in the hills just to the west of the original Chianti district now referred to as the Chianti Classico region near the city of Montevarchi.
As you can see from the sunset photo below the weather was perfect - exceptionally and un-seasonally warm.
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Watch out for our final Italian post from Venice coming out very soon followed by our Mediterranean / Black Sea Cruise on MSC Opera. In the meantime please keep sending in your comments and questions.
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