Welcome. This is my last posting from my very short trip to Tuscany in September.Casalguidi is a small town situated a few km south of Pistoia and about 35 km North East of Florence in Northern Tuscany. Every year it has a week-long Fiera (Festival) in September. I was there at this time so took a few photos.
The Tuscan country is famous for its beauty. Many of the classic scenes that you see on calendars and postcards are from the South of Tuscany. While I was in North Tuscany I went on a couple of trips into the hills and of course couldn't resist taking some shots.
The first photo shows a hot dog and "porchetta" (whole roasted pig) stall with the tower of the church behind
A closer view
A very, perhaps uncomfortably close view!
Street in the town, lit up for the
festivities
More meat, hanging from the ceiling, and if
that wasn't enough hanging on the walls as well
The Church of St Peter was first built in the
twelfth century. There is documentation about
Casalguidi from the year 1000. In Roman
times it was probably a way station along the
road from Pistoia to Montalbano
The Misericordia is a voluntary organisation
like St John's Ambulance. Lovely building
Daytime and the festivities are
very colourful!
Watch out! The aliens are also celebrating. The
festival is very agricultural with fine examples
of modern farming machinery
Out in the countryside now
Tuscan country house
Cypresses are the hallmark of Tuscan countryside.
They are used as windbreakers
Looking towards the Appennines that divide
Tuscany and Reggio Emilia
Olive groves
Entrance to Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo in
Buriano near Quarrata
Beautifully framed
Lovely campanile
There used to be an ancient castle here. This
priory Church was built somewhere around
the 14 century but then restructured in its
present form in 1735
Very peaceful. There are hopes to make a
museum here
Olive cultivation began in the
eighth century in Tuscany.
Although its yield is about 10
times less than the olive trees in
southern Italy, it is very popular
because it is less acidic, giving it
a distinctive flavour
The iron-rich red soil is good for making
overall quality wine
These lovely houses are cool in summer. They
have very thick walls and very efficient window
shutters to keep the sunlight at bay
More modern houses nestled between the trees
Panorama
Green floor mops!
In the hills steps are built to create flat terraces
for cultivation
A medieval campanile stands proud in what's
now a modern village
Many different shades of green as the hills
fold into each other
Great sky
The long and winding road
