Wednesday and Thursday

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WEDNESDAY. OR WAS IT THURSDAY??? I have no idea: RADDA

According to the internet..."Radda in Chianti dates back to the 9th century and has been an important settlement throughout Tuscany’s history. Situated at the crossroads of major trade routes between Florence and Siena, it was a strategic location during the Middle Ages. In fact, Radda served as the capital of the Chianti League, a defensive alliance of small towns, in the 13th and 14th centuries.

The town’s medieval roots are still evident today, with narrow cobblestone streets, ancient stone buildings, and historical landmarks dotting the landscape. As you wander through Radda, you’ll encounter traces of its past, including the town’s impressive city walls, ancient churches, and the remnants of its fortress. This combination of historical richness and natural beauty makes Radda in Chianti a destination worth exploring in depth."

We visited the Rampini ceramic studio, chatted with and photographed the artist at work, painting a beautiful huge platter. We lusted after the tableware in the gift shop, knowing it would not fit into our suitcases.


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Beth made friends with a cat.

Just in case you're wondering if eating and visiting local villages are the only things we're doing here, they are not. We are working in the studio every day for several hours. Here's proof. You may want to turn your volume down when you watch the little video. We play music while we work, and it's a little loud on the video.

These ladies are making some beautiful work. Tomorrow I will start photographing some of it so you can see.








Here are our wonderful Masters of Ceremony, John and Scott. They have been keeping us on track, making sure we make it to dinner on time, driving us up and down mountains to visit all these places, planning our days. They have been great.

Wednesday: Monterriggioni.







According to VisitTuscany.com, Monteriggioni is one of the oldest, most memorable and recognizable villages in all of Italy; it has been inhabited since the eighth century BC. The town is even mentioned by the poet Dante Alighieri in the Divine Comedy: Inferno, Canto XXXI.


Thursday. Radda in Chianti.









This was a sweet little town about a half hour from where we are staying. Anxious to get back to the studio to paint today (time is running short), we were able to walk it quickly, take lots of pictures, have a quick Tuscan lunch, and get back to the studio in  couple of hours.




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