http://www.mangiacane.it/
We met very nice people during our time at the villa. Salvatore and Michael both worked at the restaurant and treated us wonderfully. We also met Massimo (on site chef from a town called Prato- about 40 minutes north of villa). He was self taught and shared amazing recipes at a cooking class that we had with him (personal, just us!). We cooked together and then we ate together and shared the villa's wine. A three hour informative class. What I thought was really cool was that when we met for our class we not only focused on the meals that we were to cook that day but he also knew exactly what we had ordered the evening prior and shared with us how he prepared each of our meals (three course meals). He was very talented....see included link:
http://www.mangiacanespa.com/cooking-classes.php
We relaxed at the Villa, enjoyed lots of food, met a great couple from Chicago (Vicki and John who were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary!), we walked through the vineyards and into the Chianti region. Such a pretty and relaxing place! Day one consisted of relaxing and a superb dinner! Day two we enjoyed the cooking class and the wine tasting class with Paulo and then later in the evening we went to dinner at the Antonari estates restaurant, Osteria di Passignano (one of the largest wine maker in Italy). This place was unbelievable. The estate was set so high up (scary tiny roads) in Tuscany and as you arrived all you could see was the castle and clock tower. Such a medieval feel and has been a family business since the 12th century. We enjoyed a great dinner, arguably our best...and met a cool father and son from Montreal. Mike bought some wine from the store- a ridiculous bottle of Tiagnello and we were back to the villa.
The last full day at the villa we spent driving, driving and more driving. We did two day trips to San Gimignano, full of medieval towers (14 remain and there used to be 70), and is known as medieval Manhattan. I was a bit disturbed as I had read a lot about this town prior and it's torture treatments of the towns people (including children) which we both were highly disturbed by. They even had museums all about torture. It was a bit much. Mike and I enjoyed best the architecture of the town- as it is on a hilltop-amazing views (impressive as you drive up). FYI- George Clooney just bought a house here as well. Very narrow streets and tall walls- very much a maze like feel. The enoteca's, the shop owners, the gelato shops were all very nice- we enjoyed a slice of pizza in the town square and then we were off to Siena.
Siena was really nice however exactly the moment that we arrived it was pouring! We walked drenched wet throughout this town that had narrow streets and steep alleys. They had amazing shops and we made our way to the Duomo- beautiful and Piazza del Campo (where they run the Palio-horse race each year). We both enjoyed the feel and energy of this town- it was as though you were in a movie set.
We departed - still completely drenched from the rain and got back in the car. We were invited by a NYC contact to visit the winery Badia Coltibuono. See link of this estate!
http://www.coltibuono.com/index.asp?lingua=_L2
During the course of the 19th century, the former monastery was transformed into a wine estate and is surrounded by forest. We visited their shop, received an amazing private tour including a wine, olive oil and honey tasting by Silvia from Firenze- so sweet! We also went into their church and there was the very same sculpture of Mary that we have at my parents house in the back yard. The one where Mary is stepping on the serpent. It was really cool there....we loved it. Afterwards we had a wonderful dinner at their Osteria and got back o the road where we remained for over 2 hours of pain.
When we say two hours of pain....we can't make this stuff up. We were advised to "watch out for wild boar while driving" and "if we are to hit one and their big asses- it's like hitting a brick wall..."- this little bit bothered me and we vowed to no matter what stay in the car. We drove back after it had become dark and alas there are no street lights and never lost had earned it's new name of forever lost. It had asked us to make illegal U turns and to take non existing exits off roundabouts (one roundabout actually had 6 exits). Needless to say this was the most scary and uncomfortable portion of our trip to Italy. We drove and drove and drove....and then almost drove right into (as our high beams put them on center stage) three "working" women-soliciting. I would highly recommend never driving in Tuscany after dark.....that was brutal. On a safer note, once we arrived back at the villa we hung out and got ready for the final day/breakfast at the villa and we were off to Florence/ Firenze.
Florence details to follow.....We heart Florence/ Firenze!
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