Wonderful View from gorgeous Terrace in San Gimignano

30 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Restaurant, San Gimignano, Tuscany

Tags

italy, Locanda san Domenico, Photography, San Gimignano, Toscana, travel, Tuscany

Each time I have visited San Gimignano it has been for the day so of course we take pleasure in a lovely lunch as part of that day. We have chosen restaurants to eat which are clearly visible from where we are walking. We tend to choose the restaurants that look very Tuscan and also that are not overly crowded with tourists. Tough call hey, after all we are in San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s most popular hill-top towns. We have always enjoyed amazing Tuscan meals in San Gimignano and usually choose the restaurant’s specialty from the menu.

On this particular occasion we sought out a restaurant away from the main square and came across Locanda San Domenico. We were wandering past this restaurant but could not see much of it from the street where we were standing. A man from another group of people right by us went in to check it out and came back saying the views from the terrace were amazing. So, after our own investigation we decided that this was the place for us to have lunch.

This restaurant is only a short walk down the hill from the Piazza Della Cisterna

We did not have a reservation but the staff were friendly and helpful. The menu was of simple traditional Tuscan food served in an unfussy way which suits me very well. We loved sitting outside under the olive trees with the beautiful views and the service was friendly

We dined on the terrace which has an undoubtedly superb view of the surrounding countryside. The weather was perfect so it was a relaxing and enjoyable experience. We were made to feel so welcome and the staff did not try to hurry us at all, which I must say, is usually the case in Italy. They believe in taking your time to enjoy your meals and if that takes hours, then that is what you do.

After our leisurely meal consisting of pastas, salads and wine and, just before leaving, we took a short explore of this delightful restaurant with its own underground cellar.

Just a note, they do not accept credit cards. Good food, friendly staff in a stunning setting

Bike Riding – great way to see Lucca

23 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Bike Riding in Lucca, Tuscany

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

Bagni di Lucca, bike riding, Cicli Bizzarri, italy, Lucca, Photography, Ponte a Serraglio, Riscio Piccolo, Toscana, Tuscany

We visited Lucca several times while staying in Bagni di Lucca. It is only a short trip to Lucca from the village where our apartment is in Ponte a Serraglio, by car or by bus. I always enjoyed the bus trip as there was so much to see on the way. When we drove the car we made sure that we left early so we could easily find a parking space in the walled city.

On 2 of our visits to Lucca we rented the Riscio Piccolo from Cicli Bizzarri. This style of bike was so very easy for us to use, we were able to take all our purses, back packs, cameras etc with us. And the bike was really easy for us to operate, not hard work at all.

O, and you do not need to know how to ride a bike to operate this one.

The first time we rented the Piccolo we stayed down in the centre of the walled city and rode all around. It is a perfect and easy way to see the entire city. The cost was 12 euros per hour. We didn’t need to commit to a specific time and paid for the time we used the bikes on return. This system suited us perfectly cause you really have no idea how long you will be as once you start exploring this delightful city you can easily lose track of time. Well, we sure did.

We rented our 2 seater bike each time from Cicli Bizzarri, which is just inside the walls at the north end / top of the town. They are open daily, and there’s no need to reserve a bike in advance unless you are booking bikes for a large group. Rental rates are a few Euros an hour, and they’ll keep your ID while you take the bike out. They also rent helmets but they’ll tell you they’re not necessary.

Riding one circuit on the walls will take you about 25 minutes at a relatively slow pace (it’s a park, with people walking, lots of bikes etc. so don’t expect to race around), we stopped many times to take photos and chat with people. If you’d like to go for a longer ride, ask the people at Cicli Bizzarri – they have plenty of nearby route suggestions. One of the owners is Aussie and of course speaks English

As you can see from the Google maps screen shot below, the walls (and hence the path) completely circle the city, but you’re not balancing on a narrow wall, as many people first imagine. The path is very wide (wide enough that it was once used as a racetrack), and it is also completely flat and full of great picnic spots

You can take hour or you can take all day. There is so much to see from the wall and of course there is so much to see and do in Lucca.

We met several people who return to Lucca every year to rent an apartment for 2 – 4 weeks. There are lots to see in Lucca and naturally so much to experience in the surrounding Tuscan area.

Elegant, Stunning, Tuscan – Villa Grabau

16 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Tuscany, Villa Grabau

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

italy, Lemon House, Limonaia, Lucca, Photography, Ponte a Moriano, Ponte a Serraglio, Tuscan, Tuscan Villa, villa, Villa Grabau

Only a short 15 minute drive from our apartment in Ponte a Serraglio is a village called Ponte a Moriano. Then just a few minutes from the centre (il centro) of this village is one of the many stunning villas in this area. At the local bar/café we asked for directions to Villa Grabau.

We easily found this Tuscan villa but alas the gates to the entrance were closed and locked. We decided to drive up close and see how much we could see through the gates and as we drove up to the gates, they automatically opened so we drove in and up the long white driveway. Within a few minutes a lady appeared and explained to us that the Villa is a private residence however we were welcome to stay and we could do a tour of the grounds and of the actual villa. These instructions are also posted at the gate however when at first you do not see anyone you believe it to be closed.

The lady gave us a map of the property and showed us where to park the car. She suggested that we spend about an hour exploring the grounds, gardens, outer buildings etc. Then we were to meet up with her again at the rear of the villa for a tour with her of the inside of the villa.

At first we thought that an hour was a long time but we were wrong. There was so much to see and experience on that elegant property surrounded by greenery and silence that an hour went very quickly.

The entire property is beautifully manicured , clean and well-kept

The back garden of the house, is composed of two large oval flower beds, decorated with vases of lemons and by a high hedge curved with oaks. There are statues of female figures to introduce open passages in the hedge, and benches, a table and stone sculptures. It is such a peaceful lovely area.

We were quite surprised by the huge collection of lemon trees in rich old terracotta pots. There is a special building, Limonaia, the Lemon house, where these lemon trees are housed during the winter and cold months. The Limonaia is a real jewel, perfectly preserved from 1640

The villa is situated on nine hectares which is full of secular trees and real botanical rare species with rare plants found in the 3 architectural gardens – the “English Garden”, the “Italian Garden” and the gracious “Box hedge theatre”.

After exploring the grounds we met the lady as planned for our tour of the inside of the villa. Actually the tour is only of the ground floor as the above floors are the private residence of the owners of the villa. The elegant ground floor of the Villa is totally furnished and the rooms show amazing frescoes. After taking only a few photos we were advised that photography was not allowed which we respected.

This stunning Tuscan villa is only a short distance, about 7 kilometres, from the city centre of Lucca

Peaceful and Lovely on the Lake – Santa Caterina del Sasso

09 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Lake Maggiore, Santa Caterina del Sasso

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

borromeo gulf, hermitage, italy, Lago Maggiore, Lake Maggiore, Photography, Santa Caterina, Santa Caterina del Sasso, Santa Caterine, Stresa, the Hermitage, The Hermitage, travel

Another great day out for us was an afternoon visit to Santa Caterina del Sasso. The Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, perched on its “balcony” overlooking the Borromeo Gulf, is one of the most intriguing historical sites on Lake Maggiore

The ferry trip from Stresa to Santa Caterina is only about 15 minutes but on this particular occasion we took the hydrofoil which was only about a 6 minute trip. As with all of the boat trips we had on Lago Maggiore, it was an interesting easy trip with the spectacular scenery along the way.

You can also reach the Hermitage by car, there is plenty of free parking up the top and then there are about 240 steps to walk down to the entrance of the hermitage or you can take the elevator.

We had spotted the hermitage while taking boat trips to other parts of Lago Maggiore and we were fascinated by what we could see from the lake but we sure were not prepared for the actual visit. This 12th Century Hermitage is a very peaceful and inspirational place perched on a rocky ridge. The buildings are all very well-preserved.
The hermitage was founded by the wealthy merchant, Alberto Besozzi in 1170. Whilst he was out in his boat one evening he was caught up in a storm and his boat capsized. He prayed to St Catherine to be saved and that if his prayers were answered, he would give all his money to the poor and retire to live as a hermit. His prayers were answered and so he went to live in a cave as a hermit. In 1195 he built a tiny, isolated church in recognition of his deliverance. The present buildings date from the late 13th – early 14th centuries. The Hermitage comprises three buildings: the southern convent, the small convent, and the church.

In recent years a modern elevator has been installed which allows the elderly or disabled to access the hermitage from the top or up to the road where there is a restaurant. The new lift, which can carry up to 12 people, is a real jewel of engineering. In fact, the space race was achieved by digging a well in the rock 6 feet in diameter, 51 meters deep and well-connected in a horizontal tunnel exit to the areas below 45 meters long which opens onto a panoramic view of Lake Maggiore.

The Hermitage is beautifully restored. You can see some common areas facing the lake, and a part of the church, with very old frescoes. If you are lucky enough you can hear prayers and singing of hymns.

This wine and olive press also has its own story.

Wine and Olive Press

It is beautiful, peaceful and the panorama from the Hermitage to the lake is exceptional.

This is another wonderful excursion for you when staying on Lago Maggiore.

Carnival of Flowers – Toowoomba

03 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Australia, Carnival of Flowers, Toowoomba

≈ 16 Comments

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australia, Botanical Gardens, Brisbane, Brisbane. Toowoomba, Carnival of Flowers, Darling Downs, flowers, Great Dividing Range, Japanese gardens, Laurel Bank Park, Photography, Picnic Point, Qld, Queens Park, Queensland, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, travel

Toowoomba (nicknamed ‘The Garden City’) is a city in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, located 127 km (79 mi) west of Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane. Toowoomba is situated on the crest of the Great Dividing Range around 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level.

A university and cathedral city, Toowoomba hosts the Australian Carnival of Flowers each September. With hundreds of parks & blossoming gardens to explore, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has something for everyone.

Yes, this is not Italy but this was such a lovely excursion and the gardens are just so beautiful I wanted to write about it. It took us about an hour and 45 minutes to drive up to Toowoomba.

Toowoomba has a different climate to Brisbane, it is not as humid, consequently the flowers, shrubs and trees, in my opinion are just so much nicer. The abundance of colour and the spectacular variety of flowers reminds me of many of the lovely gardens in Italy.

This annual garden festival includes prize-winning private gardens, and many public parks.

We started our visit at the Picnic Point which is located on the escarpment of the Great Dividing Range. Picnic Point has panoramic views to the horizon. There is a great restaurant there, plenty of picnic areas and actually you could spend a full day there.

We then drove over to the University where we spent time in the Japanese Gardens. These are probably one of the nicest if not the nicest Japanese gardens in Australia.

After the Japanese gardens we drove over to Laurel Bank Park which presents a splendid display of beautiful blooms, exotic scented gardens, herbs and shrubs in raised garden beds. Here we had a very Aussie lunch which was put on by the local Lions Club. I am always happy to support these type of charity clubs.

Our last stop before heading back to Brisbane was Queens Park Gardens which is within walking distance of the city heart and features Toowoomba’s Botanical Gardens, bright flower beds, avenues of large leafy trees, wide open grasslands, an off leash area for dogs and two well-equipped children’s playgrounds. Queens Park is also home to the Ergon Energy Flower, Food and Wine Festival, and lots more.