This morning we took the bus to Tenuta di Valgiano, a wine estate that uses biodynamic farming practices. We got a tour of the property, which is jaw dropping. Tenuta di Valgiano has been a wine estate since the 1600’s.
They do not use any chemicals in the soil here, and we were told that many studies prove that the biodynamic method is very good for the soil, and there are signs that monks used the same practices since the 1300’s. We also learnt that they crush the grapes with their feet to avoid using machines and keep the process natural. I think that would be a fun job. We had a look at the cellars and then had a wine tasting.
We were served some focaccia with the wine tasting, and then had a cous cous dish for lunch. I spent a while here sitting on the steps admiring the property, taking photos and playing with the dogs. They have a super cool kitchen here!
After lunch, we got back on the bus and departed for Lucca, a city surrounded by a Renaissance wall. We got a guided tour, which I really enjoyed (I don’t usually love guided tours). Our guide was fantastic and the tour was fast paced. She pointed out traditional treats in bakeries and statues of historical figures, and taught us about the old business signs, which cannot be removed. It is not uncommon in Lucca to see a bakery with a sign that reads “Farmacia.” We visited the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, which used to be a Roman Amphitheater, the Chiesa di San Michele in Foro and the Torre Guinigi, an old brick tower with oak trees growing from the top. We saw a statue of the composer Puccini, which is outside the home he was born in. This building is now a museum.
When the tour was over a few of us stopped to grab a snack at a bakery. The staff urged us to sit down instead of grabbing something to go. I quickly realized that this was because the prices were higher on the menus at the tables than the prices listed inside, so I didn’t get anything.
We wandered around a little, and then walked back to the bus stop.
Back in Montespertoli we had a relatively relaxing evening. Nathan, Jackson, Kaitlin and I went for pizza in town for dinner. I had a pizza with tomato, shrimp, and artichokes. It was nice but I was disappointed to find that there was no tomato sauce on it. I tried Jackson’s Margherita though and it was very nice.
After dinner we spent a bit of time at the farmhouse getting trains and passes organized for the Cinque Terre. We discovered that the bus from Montespertoli only goes to Florence twice a day on Sundays, 8:30 am and 5:00 pm. I was disappointed to discover this as it means we will have to miss a day of lectures due to the schedule mix ups.
