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9th Oct Last night we had a big party at Villa Fontelunga. It was my mother in law , Gill, 70th birthday . We had many family and friends over to the Villa from the UK and Rome. Ines , my mum ,was in charge of the food ( even with a broken arm!)and we had a great time eating , drinking and chatting ! the lasagna was yammy and the porchetta even better What a great way to close the season. Love and peace to all , Paolo 8th Nov The season 2008 is Over Dear all , old and new friends, the season 2008 at Villa Fontelunga is finished . Thank you very much for the continuous support you gave us over the years. Philip , Simon and myself are very gratefull to all of you , we could not have achieved our success at the hotel and the villas without your support ! we look forward to welcoming you in Tuscany in 2009 , we will reopen Villa Fontelunga as a hotel as from 3rd April. Have a good Winter ! Paolo To add your comment to this entry, click here 31st Oct Happy Halloween !! Trick or treat ? 30th Oct The tourist office and the Comune of Foiano della Chiana are pleased to invite you to visit Foiano s Castle for the exceptional Della Robbia event in 2009. Foiano, at the centre of Robbia s Valdichiana, will be staging an exhibition of the glazed ceramic sculptures produced by the Della Robbia workshops over three generations with the theme, Arts & Comparison - Madonna and Child in the 15th century . The whole event will be staged by the art gallery Moretti of Florence, also offering a rich agenda of musical events, art and culture. Visitors for this occasion will be offered a 10% discount in those hotels and guest houses involved in event whilst certain restaurants will prepare special menus and dishes for this unique occasion. 27th Oct Philip and myself went to Rome for the week end . The weather is still very hot and sunny for this time of the year. On Sunday we had lunch outside closed to Piazza Navona at Corallo, little restaurant with great food . Back in Tuscany and we started the week with incredible fog: we cannot see the olive grove from the Villa! 20th Oct The week end went very quickly and we have a full on week ahead of us finalizing the contracts for the new projet in Pozzo , Borgo69. Have a look at the new development webpage at www.borgo69.com Another sunny and warm day and I will leave you with another easy recipe from the Chocolate festival : Dried Figs with chocolate Ingredients: 500 g of Dried Gigs 200 g dark chocolate 100 g of toasted almonds 1/2 glass of vermut In a small pan met the chocolate at "bagnomaria". Cut the figs and put in each of them an almond. close them carefully and with a fork dip them in the melted chocolate. after that lay them on a try on top of some oven paper and let them cool for a while . Eat them with a godd dry wine . PS if the chocolate is too think , add some drops of vermouth . 18th Oct Perugia & the Eurochocolate From Today until the 26th Oct there is the EuroChocolate festival in Perugia. Tray this simple & quick recipe : Crostini with Gorgonzola , pears & chocolate Ingredients: Sliced bread 200 g of Gorgonzola cheese 2 pears 100 g dark chocolate white peper ( a bit ) milk ( a bit ) Take the Gorgonzola cheese out of the fridge and let it get soft at room temperature. Peel the pears, take out the core and cut in segment, put in a bowl and cover it with clingfilm so the pears dont get dark . Cut the edge of the sliced bread and toast it a bit in the oven. Melt the pieces of chocolate with 1/ 2 spoons of milk until it is fluid but not liquid. sperad a bit of Gorgonzola on eaqch slice of bread, add 2 pear segments ,a touch of pepper and a spoon of melted chocolate. Serve hot immediately . 15th Oct It is official : Lola is not pregnat ! Oliver this time as well proved himself useless , poor little one so frantic and in the end no puppies. Oh well we will try again in March! still sunny and warm today at lunch time was 23 degrees. possibly it will change over the week end. Last night went to a dinner party and for the first time in Tuscany I had Sushi. One of the guests didnt have it before and kept calling it Suki : looking at the wasabi took a big tesspoon put it on a bit of sashimi and stright in her mouth ... the poor woman was in tears and rushed out of the room while me i could not stop laughing !! To add your comment to this entry, click here 10th Oct We are back from London after 8 days of marketing and publicity for the Villas and I m so happy to be back in Tuscany !! We landad at Perugia airport this morning and the weather at the moment is fantastic , very sunny and warm (around 25 degrres by lunch time). Our time in London was frantic as usual,running around London for business and trying to see all our friends and family as well .We went to Babington House at the week end: the weather was incredibly wet and cold but our stay at Babington was great : we love the property, grounds and the staff is superfriendly. The season is nearly over here at Fontelunga but we are still busy with great guests. In various villages there are many festivals , from the Porcini and tartufo to the wild boar with polenta . To add your comment to this entry, click here 30th Sept we had a great week end. weather still a bit cold but I love the smell of burning wood and It is cosy to sit outside in the evening with the fire on in the gazebo.We had chestnuts for the first time this season and some fantastic Porcini mushrooms. Nexy week Philip and myself are going to London on a marketing trip and a week end at Babington House in Somerset : I will report back next week 26th Sept Hello all , weather has changed in the last few days and it is quite chilly in the morning and in the evening. for the first time this season we have put the fire on in the gazebo and had dinner out but with the heaters. 23rd Sept Back in Tuscany , a bit tired ! we had a great week end in Barcelona. the flight from Perugia is perfect and convenient for us . the weather was not so good , quite wet actually but never mind we had a fab time anyway . Catched up with our friends Eric and John , had late dinner and drunk lots of Copas in the gothic quarter in a restaurant called Solero !!Address is Carrer del Rec 60, Barcelona, 08003 Tel: +34 93 319 8022. Formerly a salt storehouse, but converted into a welcoming bar-restaurant 15 years ago. White is the predominant color. It is always full of trendy, modern young people, mainly locals - so book to ensure your table( sitting at 21.30 and 23.30)The menu changes with the seasons and has an Asian slant . Usually several veggie options. Their desserts are home-made, usually including chocolate brownies and are enormous. Good wine list with very inexpensive house wine. 19th Sept this is our week end off (Paolo and Philip)and we are flying off to Barcelona ! will tell you all about it next week . ciao to all Paolo 18th Sept Hi guys,Just to say I am missing you all!!! Back to reality here in England and the start of school for the little ladies! What a shock...... no more gold sandals and ice creams in the sun!!! Instead we are huddled up to the Aga and wearing a uniform now! More to the point, just wanted to say thank you so much for such a great week at Fontelunga, it was truly fantastic and we loved every minute of the whole experience. Everyone even commented on the fact we looked like we had had a holiday - a rare experience with Eva and Freya in tow! Both girls still talk about the place and of course the dogs! I am sure we will be back. Enjoy Love to you all Amanda, Iain, Eva and Freya 18th Sept Dear Paulo, I just wanted to thank you so very much for a wonderful night and couple of days with Suzy at Villa Fontelunga. It was so kind of you to be so flexible with our rather late departure yesterday, and incredibly generous of you to offer us the second room. I had no idea what to expect with the dinner party on Tuesday night, but not only was it completely delicious, but it was such a wonderful chance to meet the other guests, and to then see them the following day as fellow house guests rather than strangers. What an inspired idea! Completely by chance my sister, Anna, has booked three nights with you starting tomorrow. She is taking her boyfriend as a surprise birthday present which, as a travel writer, will be his idea of heaven! Please do look out for her , apparently we look very similar indeed! I can not wait to hear about her time with you, she’s going to adore it! Many, many thanks again for a wonderful stay , I will have such fond memories of it! Kindest regards, Natalie , London 16th Sept The sun is back and with a full Villa I am very happy for all my guests. Lola escaped twice over the last week end . we hope either Chicco or Oby did not have their wicked way with her. now the season is over and she is so happy to be not anymore on house arrest! 15th Sept hello to all from unfortunately ,after a long time, a wet Tuscany. It has been a great week end with Pippa and Rowland wedding (Congratulation !) but unfortunately since friday the haeven opened and itrained quite a lot ! The wedding was beatifull nethertheless , with a fantatic transparent gazebo in fron of the Villa and great catering from Tonino of Cortona: Tania did a super job with the flowers decoration. 12th Sept Hello friends , still sunny and hot in Tuscany . Small update on Lola : she is in full heat , locked in the house. all the male dogs in the vicinity are going mad !! we have daily , Chicco , Toby an Oby + the big lassie dog all over the villa hoping to have thier wicked way with Lola . Oliver is going beserk as well but poor love is totally useless with her ! Big wedding here at the Villa this week end : Pippa and Rowland are getting married in Cortona Town Hall on saturday and than we have a big party here at VF on sat nights and sunday. 11th Sept Hi Simon, instead of a rain dance(which I would love to see)you could just invite me, cause the chances are close to a 100 % that it will be pouring with rain while I am in Tuscany. hope to see you soon, Dina , Munich (and please donot put this on your blog) Hoopsss too late 9th Sept Hi Paolo, Hope all is well at Fontelunga. Back in the office today and its grey and wet….hope the sun is shining in Tuscany! I just wanted to say that we had such a fantastic time at Fontelunga last week and everything was absolutely perfect. Every thing you could ever need during a holiday had been thought of , especially the bible on the surrounding area with restaurant suggestions. You have a great place on your hands and I would love to be kept updated on the plans for the next property as I am sure we will be back in the not too distant future. Having left you we visited Portofino and stayed in a hotel which was three times the price of our stay at Fontelunga. I can assure you that it didn’t even compare to our time with you , the staff were unfriendly not to mention unhelpful and unwelcoming. Such a small world too that you know Chris Bodker whom my sister Gina works with. She said that she met you and Philip when you had your reception at The Avenue , I am in the middle of persuading her that her and her boyfriend must come out for some peace and quiet at Fontelunga ASAP! Very best wishes and many thanks again. Danielle , London PS Looking forward to sampling our olive oil too , what a treat. 5th Sept Speaking Of Oliver and Lola : Little Lola is in season again (actually it happens only twice a year)and this time we would like her and Oliver to have puppies. The only problem is that Oliver is a bit useless and even if is very frantic and obbsess with Lola , he does not have a clue where to start! so we called the breeder and she told us that often pure breed dogs will need a "hand" in the mating process!!! watch this space as next week Philip and myself will try artificial insemination with Lola and Oliver( using Marigolds)! 4th Sept Paolo, Philip & Simon Thank you so much for your hospitality , 6 days of heaven! You have created a totally unique product that cannot fail to impress. You will see us again. And again. And again. Do keep us informed of the development of the new venture as we may be interested, either independently, or in conjunction with Lisa’s parents. Thank you one again for such a fabulous week, please pass on our very best regards to Carmelo (and Oliver and Lola!) Best wishes to you all Lisa & Gary -Cheshire 1st Sept 2008: Hello friends ! Philip and myself come back from a great week end away . for our week end off we went up to Padua and Treviso area. we are very lucky this summer with the weather , still very sunny and hot . In Padua we stayed at the Methis Hotel , a great modern design hotel in Riviera Paleocapa. Saturday we went to the Brenta River for a Pic nic : what an Idyllic place !!! Padua as well is a great city , very elegant and laid back : I really advise all of you to go and visit it . back at the Villa where we are full of lovely guests and Ines as well arrived from Rome and will stay with us for few weeks. To add your comment to this entry, click here 29th Aug 2008: Now i have got the bug for this blogging. If anyone has got some brilliant ideas of how to garden in soil which goes from one minute from something like reinforced cement and then after some rain to a glutinous mass impossible to dig I would like to here from you. This probably why the sensible italians have everything in pots or use tractors the size of bulldozers to dig even the smallest vegetable garden! Simon To add your comment to this entry, click here Kittina, you beat me to the punch - I was going to email you to let you know how much we LOVED our vacation at Villa Fontelunga. I am truly homesick for the place. We had the best vacation we've ever had! The location was fabulous, the villa just perfect, and Paolo and his staff were extremely gracious. Paolo was unbelievably helpful and kind when Ella cut her finger - a perfect example of how he goes above and beyond for his guests. NO WORRIES about the dinner the first night - I never mention being vegetarian because I can always find something to eat - and of course I did that night - and besides, Phil and the girls all eat meat so the meal was fine.THANK YOU for helping us choose the absolute PERFECT place for our vacation. Kerri Shigo 28th Aug 2008: Hi Simon here. I thought it was about time to put pen to paper. As a gardener I am half thinking enough of these sunny days in Tuscany and a little bit of rain might be needed. The gardens are looking a little bit parched and we are even watering the Lavender as we are begining to loose the odd plant particularly down in Scannagallo which always is that little bit warmer than up on the hill at Villa Fontelunga. So if any guests see some mad englishman doing a rain dance under the tuscan sun I apologise now ...and if it does rain hopefully only enough to wet the soil and not your holiday! To add your comment to this entry, click here 24th Aug 2008: hello friends , another sunny day here in Tuscany . I have to say since the middle of June the weather has been fantastic. August is nearly over and Italy from next week will start to go "back to work". It is quite amazing that the whole country stop in August and go on holiday !! Philip and myself last week (Ferragasto)did the same and went down south for 4 days: we stayed in Sperlonga for 2 days and the other 2 dayys in Rome . Sperlonga is fantastic , the many beaches very beatifull and the water cryatll clear. We did very little apart from going to the beach ( oliver and Lola as well )swimming , reading and of course eating alot. Rome as well was great : the city was empty , no traffic at all , quite surreal.The beach in Ostia is Okish but the water is not so clean. nethertheless we went and met few friends there so overall our mini break was perfect ! Five stars? Oh yes. What can I say? This is one of the most pleasant places I have ever stayed at. Ever. It is an old Padronale residence outside a sleepy little town in the Val di Chiana valley. It sure looks old but it is by no means an old-fashioned place. The owners will do anything to ensure that you will not walk away with that impression. And the owners are fantastic, Paolo, Philip and Simon are great guys; happy, friendly and cheerful but even more imporantly 100% committed to make you feel just right at home. They are the key factor in making this place what it is. hakan nyberg ,stockholm, sweden 7th Aug 2008: Hello People, still very hot and sunny and we love every minute of it ! Philip in London was quite depressed considering that over to the UK the weather is like middle of November !lots of little festival all over around us at the moment . In Marciano for the rest of August there is the Pizza festival and of course next week is the PALIO in Siena! To add your comment to this entry, click here 1st Aug 2008: Hello All , sorry I didnt write for a couple of weeks but we have been pretty busy at the hotel and the villas . we are having fantastic weather at the moment , hot and sunny and gret guests . my nephew Luca was over with a spanish friend Javier from Madrid and Ines was here as well ( my mum) for a week before heading to UK and stay with my inlaws for a while and improve his english. Philip still in London doing his commercial . this week end I am off so i will be going to the beach in Torre del Lago with Lola and Oliver . Happy summer to all. To add your comment to this entry, click here Dear Paolo , Philip and Simon First of all, we would like to thank you all very much for your kind and relaxed hospitality, during our stay at Villa Funtelunga last week. We enjoyed our stay 100 % and we will certainly return again and we will also give your place our best recommendations to our friends. Hope you all will have a fantastic summer. Kind regards, Marianne, Oscar and Michael-Denmark Paolo, Once again, just a small note to say how much we enjoyed our stay with you in Tuscany. The villa was terrific, the location amazing, and the service and staffing first class. Nothing was ever too much trouble for you or any of your staff, and any request we had was dealt with expeditiously and in a friendly and courteous manner. It was a pleasure being guests, and I'd like to think we will get back in the next couple of years. If you are in London in the coming months and fancy a drink or a bite to eat, Shannon and I would love to repay your hospitality, so do give us a shout if you're at a loose end. Many thanks and look forward to crossing paths again in the future. Best Regards, Jono & Shannon Bayes (and Isobel and Oscar!) 14th July 2008: Still great sunny weather here in Tuscany but not as hot as last week. Full house and full Villas so we are busy busy. Lucy is back for a long week end.As well Penny is back with all her family to celebrate her birthday next Thursday. Went to a lovely Winery in Montalcino , Poggio Antico and did some wine tasting: very nice indeed! To add your comment to this entry, click here 7th July 2008: Philip is back from wet and cold London and for our week end off we went to Maremma to the National Park of Uccellina , close to Grosseto on the coast. Had 2 fantastic days of sea , sun and total relax (with Oliver and Lola as well). the only problem we got stuck in traffic on suanday on our way back so de took a detour crosscountry and we stopped for dinner in this little village called Civitella MArittima and had a fab dinner in the local Sagra: great week end away !!! 23rd June 2008: Finally Summer is Here : lovely sunny and hot weather ! Philip went to London yesterday for 1 week : oliver and lola are very hot and keep going to the pool and sit on the first step. Sean and Kira are here with us on their first wedding anniversary : time flys by ! Tried a new restaurant in Arezzo , in Piazza San Fracesco , Le Chiavi D'oro : very good indeed ! To add your comment to this entry, click here 14th June 2008: Another great week !! we had Marzia & Sven wedding at Scannagallo Villa : 80 guests , international DJ , great and Fun party ! As well next Saturday 21st June the re is night edition of the SARACINO , The saracen Joust tournament. In the morning, in Piazza S. Francesco, according to a precise and ancient ceremonial, the official investiture of the knights takes place together with the stamping of the horses that will run the Joust. In the evening, in the squares of the four Quarters, people have a propitiatory supper, which represents an opportunity for a genuine popular participation in the life of the Quarter itself. Waiting for the challenge. The Joust Day In the morning the historical procession follows the Herald who reads the announcement of the Joust to all the people. In the afternoon a suggestive procession with more than 350 figurants, between two wings of crowd, parades along the town roads, among flag-wavings and rolls of drums. In Piazza Grande After the performance of the flag jugglings and musicians and after the reading of the challenge to Buratto, King of the Indies, the exciting joust begins. Two horsemen from each Quarter charge against the huge bust of the Saracen and, by striking its shield with their lances, try to get the best score. Once the Saracen is hit by the lance, he starts winding and threatens the horseman with a heavy whip armed with lead and leather balls. The Quarter wich obtains the highest score wins the Golden Lance! 12th June 2008: I am writing with regard to our holiday at your marvelous place couple of weeks ago. I have had the perfect holiday experience at Villa Fontelunga - even with the rain. I felt like finding ShangriLa while sitting in the gazebo with a nice glass of your house wine and your fabulous food. I can hereby recommend it to anyone who is looking for a real special experience. Baci, Dina Younis from Munich 6th June 2008: had a fantastic week!! great guests for Yana's wedding and everything went well. Philip took the plaster off and now he is doing phisyo daily for 2 weeks : he is still hopping around but the foot is much better . Fiona , Max , Keith and Ricky our friends from LA and S.Diego stayed with us for few days and it was great catching up. I miss Fiona very much and i really wish she was living closer even if we skype each other nearly on a daily basis. yesterday with Philip and my mum birthday and we went down to Rome for dinner with the family : we had a great day and of course a fab dinner at Ines' house . as well in the afternoon we went to see "Sex and the City" and loved it !! Summer it is on its way ( apparentely ): the weather should be hot and sunny from sunday ! To add your comment to this entry, click here 30th May 2008: I m back in Tuscany after few days in London sorting out our flat in Chelsea. Unfortunately Philip didn't come over because of the plaster and his foot still aches a bit. Terrible weather in London : superwet and cold !!! went to the cinema ( I like to watch movie in their original language) to see Indiana Jones : definately not the best in the series .Good to be back in Tuscany : busy week end with Yana's wedding at Villa Fontelunga and a very good friend of ours , Fiona , will be arriving from San Diego !! To add your comment to this entry, click here 19th May 2008: In our local village , Pozzo della Chiana , on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June there is the reinacting of the Scannagallo 's battle ( the original battle known as well as the "war of Siena" originally occured in 1554) 16th May 2008: Philip is feeling better , hopping everywhere but getting tired easely and still keeping his leg up most of the time. Our parents went back to UK and Rome yesterday and of course with Ines cooking we gained at leat 3 kilos . Lola is frantic with a phanthom pregnancy. she stole one of Philip's shoe and she did a nest in the harb garden!! she treats the shoe like a puppy , amazing ! To add your comment to this entry, click here 11th May 2008: Ciao to all . Went to Rome for our week end off . Friday night we had dinner with our friends from Barcellona in Trastevere : I forgot how much I like Trastevere . It was a lovely warm evening and it took us a while to find a restaurant with a table outside for 4 people ( we didn’t book anything - BIG mistake ) . had an Ok dinner but after our second jug of house wine and a great tiramisu we were in a very good spirit . Unfortunately Saturday was a different story . We went with our friends to the beach ( Ostia is only 30 km away )on the scooters. Sunny day ,really warm ,very Roman holiday, until Philip fall off the scooter !! PANIC. to cut a very long story short we called an ambulance and went to the local hospital . four hours later we were on the way back to Rome with Philip with a cast with a broken foot.It could have been worst. I will keep you updated on his recovery.Ciao To add your comment to this entry, click here Responses 3rd May 2008: Another glorious sunny day !! Full house and of course many of our guests already by the pool , soaking the spring sun. Philip's parents and Ines will arive this PM and stay with us for 10 days. by the time Ines is back in Rome we will have put on 5 Kg !! Tomorrow Arezzo Antique Market : for sure we will drop by and have a look. Happy week end to all To add your comment to this entry, click here Responses 1st May 2008: MAGGIOLATA in Lucignano from the 17th to the 25th May Lucignano, an ancient medieval village, is located in a beautiful panoramic setting amidst the hills of the Chiana Valley. With unique urban design, composed of three concentric circles, Lucignano appears as an ellipse. The last two Sundays in May mark an important event in the town's history. Called La Maggiolata, it celebrates the beginning of the summer's bounty and is the most important celebration for the 3000 inhabitants of Lucignano. Like spokes on a wheel, the town is divided into four segments: Porta Murata, Porta San Giovanni, Via dell'Amore and Porta San Giusto. Each segment has two colors which distinguish it from the others and the flags of the wards are proudly waved from every flower-covered window ledge. Broom flowers are placed along each doorway, balcony and window as well to celebrate the bounty of Spring. This celebration consists of a stunning parade with four wagons representing each "Contrada" and the "contradioli" spend months preparing the wagon to reflect the year's chosen theme. Between 15,000 - 20,000 flowers are used for each cart representing an allegorical image. The wagons are judged at the end of the Maggiolata and the winners are the first to sing and dance until late in the night. Beginning on Saturday 17th May, the festival is marked by a parade consisting of local folkloristic groups that announce the festivities at hand. In the afternoon, at precisely 4:00 PM, the church bells of the main church in the village begin ringing and it is time for the main event. On the outer ring begins the procession of the four wagons each proceeded by folkloristic musicians, marching bands and fanfare. Each wagon makes four laps around the town and during the last lap, called the "Battle of the Flowers", the thousands of flowers covering the wagons are thrown into the expectant crowd, covering the streets in a rainbow of colors and perfumes. The street becomes a multi-colored carpet of flowers that is truly breath taking. After the last circle by the wagon, people mingle and go to the various restaurants around the town that have special menus celebrating the Maggiolata. On the following Sunday, after dinner, the election of the most beautiful wagon takes place. All the citizens of the winning Contrada celebrate their hard work by being the first to sing and dance on the large stage erected for this purpose. The celebrations go long into the night but already the very next day, all the Contradas are back at work focusing on the next year's Maggiolata. This is truly a festivity not to be missed and people from all over the world come to witness this event. To add your comment to this entry, click here Responses 28 April 2008: Back in Tuscany after a lovely week ned in Rome. Philip flew back from London and Saturday morning. The weather was fantastic , really warm and sunny. Had a great lunch at Ines(as usual she overfed us) and in the afternoon took Oliver and Lola to the local park. Went out with our friends in the evening for few drinks and on Sunday relaxed in the sunshine !!! To add your comment to this entry, click here Responses 23 April 2008: Antique Fair in Arezzo Sat 3rd and Sun 4th May Born in 1968, it has been the first antiquarian event having a regular cadence (never has it skipped one of its monthly appointments!), and a lasting success in a unique scenery: the medieval hearth of Arezzo and its history There are more than 500 exhibitors from any part of Italy that offer with their objects a wide view of cultural traditions and regional costumes, and an inexhaustible source for all the collectors. Thanks to the success of the event, the number of antiques and antiquarian shops has grew up, in which, furniture, drawings, gift and fancy goods, all different between themselves both for 鰯que and quality, are muddled giving to the visitor the pleasure of their discovery. Moreover, there are shops of searchers and pickers; shops with selected prices which propose more marked specializations: eighteenth and nineteenth-century drawings, old books, scientific instruments, classic archaeology, liberty glass walls, printings, art deco objects, modern antiques, silvers, and jewels. To add your comment to this entry, click here Responses 22 April 2008: Flower festival in Foiano Finally we are having some excellent weather here in Tuscany. Last week end the temperature reached 24 degrees and it was really sunny. On Saturday some of our guests went to Arezzo to the food and wine fair. there were food and local produce stands all over the old town, from Piazza San Francesco to Piazza Grande and the Duomo. Sally and Dom bought some lovely home made PICI (kind of home made pasta-Pici are relatives of the spaghetti family. They are made by hand and can reach 3 metres in length. They are the speciality of the Siena region. In other regions in Italy are know as'Strozzapreti') and we had dinner together with some other guests outside on the terrace. Sunday was another sunny day and I went with Oliver and Lola (our dogs, 2 Norfolk terriers)to Fiano della Chiana to the Flowers Festival. For the first time in the season I wore shorts and sandals (not a pretty sight with white legs!). The village was full of people, mostly local, walking around, chatting, looking for bargains and of course buying plants and flowers. I bought few plants myself: mostly herbs plants to put in our herbs garden: some large leaf sage (very good deep fried), rosemary, thyme, liquorice and some fabulous plants of French lavender to add to our garden. Now I just have to wait for Philip to come back from London and he will plant them for me (I do not have a green finger at all but I like to water the garden, it relax me) To add your comment to this entry, click here Responses Dear Paolo , just few lines to thank you for the lovely week end. We are back in wet and grey London and wish we were at Villa Fontelunga , sipping white wine by the pool and soaking the spring sun. Thank you for the olive oil , it tastes delicious! We look forward to our next visit to villa Fontelunga Sally & Dom from London SW10 |