After a leisurey brakfast overlooking the verdant valley and a gentle stroll up through the walled medieval village ...................followed by a refreshing dip ................... (just setting the scene,+ leaving out the mundanities like sh*# shower and shave)
We went for a drive to the Abbe de Fiastre. Just the two grannies, Jack Brabham and I. Practising for targa tasmania.
The Abbey was founded by Cistercian monks in 1142 and has had a mildly turbulent history with only a couple of sackings, suppressions and dissolutions.
It passed in to the hands of a noble family and is currently occupied by a family foundation and a small group of monks who returned in 1985.
There are Roman and even Etruscan relics incorporated in the building and/or displayed in a museum.
Also, old working parts from the farm, winery and olivery (is that a word Lady Olive?)
After returning from the abbey we went out for a most marvelous meal. There is a restaurant about 25 minutes windey driv across the valley. It is part of the agriturismo movement. We tried to order but fortunately the waiter largely ignored us, in the nicest possible way. We had antipasta that kept coming and coming. Organic home grown and cured meats, pickled vegetables, scramble, bruschetta, lentils etc etc.
This veritable feast was followed by pizza, goats cheese ravioli and crepes that just have to be eaten to be fully appreciated. All this was accompanied by two jugs of wine and soft drink for the kids and drivers.
Finally, the slightly less stuffed had dessert. Tiramasu, panna cotta or gelati. Everything homemade and grown I believe. All the while gazing over the valley at the twinkling lights of Penna SanGiovanni on the hill.
Benne!
No comments:
Post a Comment