Coltibuono

Our last day and it was cloudy with a little rain.  We thought we should go out somewhere so we drove to Gaiole, the other side of Radda hoping to stop there before continuing on a circular route.  The windy road took us down into the valley and more woodland.  There was a diversion in the town because of a cycle marathon the next day  (we had been trailing behind many cyclists) so we went straight on hoping we were on the right road.   There are not many signposts and one could go for miles in the 
wrong direction!  Just as we reached our turning we noticed what we thought could be a little restaurant which turned out to be a souvenir shop in the middle of nowhere.  The man told us to drive up into the trees on another unnamed lane and we would find a restaurant.  What a surprise at 
the top of the hill - the ancient former monastery of Coltibuono which had been founded in 1051 and owned by Benedictine monks until 1810.  The Stucchi-Prinetta family now own the property and produce wine, run Tuscan cookery classes and a restaurant.  We had a delicious pasta dish made with fresh anchovies, nuts, herbs and celery.  The view was panoramic but being a dull day took a picture of the ancient Cedar of Lebanon instead.  This measures 20 metres tall and 7 metres in circumference and is registered as a "monumental tree" of Tuscany (extra 
photograph).

Our last supper at the hotel.   We both ate octopus again!  Everyone waiting at table  came up and bade us farewell, many hugs and kisses.   The staff were so genuinely friendly.  We had had a wonderful time in Chianti.  Fabio would be driving us to the airport early tomorrow morning.  The hotel will close in a month's time until next spring.  The staff are laid off (rather like the seasonal jobs in Cornwall).  Bucci will go and work in a camper-van factory in Poggibonsi, another will drive home to Sarajevo - a 10 hour journey, Victoria the receptionist whose family come from Nigeria is going to London for a pre Christmas holiday with her two sisters.  New contracts will be offered in the New Year.


Extra photograph: view from our other bedroom window.