My impression of Pienza was an accessible place with inhabitants who loved the beauty which surrounded them and their own quests to make it even more so.

Flowers had been planted everywhere and inspired me to do the same next spring.

The retail stores were small and quaint with aromas of lavender or pungent cheeses depending upon where you stopped.

One of the reasons I longed to visit Pienza was because I knew that it had been one of the locations for the filming of Zeferelli’s Romeo and Juliet-one of my all time favourite movies. I scoured the sites for places familiar to me. No, these were selected for the balcony scene…..

But Tybalt did die in this square.

I did discover that this courtyard which posed as the one of the Capulet’s home.

I also stumbled upon this lovely church where I spent a few moments in prayer.

We stopped for a refreshing espresso as we made plans for the rest of the afternoon.

Soon though the arched doorways and gates

took us back to the village wall and our vehicle.

We were in the vicinity of Montepulciano so we stopped for a brief look on our way home. I stayed with the car as my knee prevented me from making another vertical climb.

Upon our arrival back at the Air BnB in Sienna, we were greeted by the most exquisite sunset.

D and I got going in the kitchen and we made a delectable pasta and salad.

Our first touring day was a perfect one and we were filled with gratitude for the privilege of travel.

Kath’s quote: “You can pack for every occasion, but a good friend will always be the best thing you could bring!” -unknown

Love never fails.

When D and I were in Tuscany in 2015, I missed what I had dreamed most about. Staying in Montecatini and really being uncertain of the geography of the region, we missed out on the Val D’orcia, which I now know is my favourite part (I might say the heart) of Tuscany. This piece of advice had been given to my by my friend Linda-The Tuscan Muse but of course you never know until you experience something for yourself.

D was kind enough to suggest Pienza for our first day of touring. The breathtaking drive was over hilly and windy roads with breathtaking  scenery.

When we arrived, the parking spot for our car was just a few steps from the edge of the town.

The vantage point of the valley from the wall was my re-occurring dream of Tuscany. I was finally there!

The day was a hot one: 25 degrees (October 20th) and as lovely as standing in the sun overlooking the valley was, we needed shade and a cold one!

Someone spotted Ristorante el Prato (Garden Restaurant) and it looked like the perfect place to stop.

The beer was frosty cold and the food fabulous.

We knew that “pici” was the designated pasta of the region. The mouth feel was somewhere in between spaghetti and macaroni. I personally prefer spaghetti or even spaghettini, but when in Rome… This Pici was Ragu Toscano.

and this pici “All Aglione” with tomatoes and garlic.

This must have been the special that day as I couldn’t find it on the menu that photographed that day. It too was glorious.

I was in the mood for veggies and ordered two starters as my lunch.

This Veddue di Stagione (Seasonal Vegetables) and

Zucchinotte a Carpaccio crude con Agreste Ricotta (Zucchini Carpaccio with Rustic Ricotta). I scooped up little potions of both with their delectable bread and was in heaven!

I spied the inside of the bar on my way to the WC,

and these interiors of the restaurant used when the weather wasn’t quite so fair.

After being refreshed in all ways, we took a stroll around town. Stay Tuned.

Kath’s quote: “I’m in love with places I’ve never been to.” -Authour Unknown

Love never fails.