** ITALY WITH FRIENDS JOURNAL PHOTOS**
Forkner and Friends Tuscany Tour (June 9-June 19,2011)
A winery tour at Poggio Antico near Montalcino.Larry and Jeff with the blue sky and vinyards of Tuscany.The group at their first visit to a Tuscan castle.Beautiful grounds of Castello Banfi.A delicious meal at Taverna Banfi.A visit to the Glass Museum.
A stop along the road to see the little chapel from my website homepage.The tiny and beautiful town of Pienza.All of our loving couples on the Via dell Amore in the romantic town of Pienza.Shopping for goodies of pecorino cheese, bread and wine. Views from our hotel windows in Pienza.This one if from the bathroom. Wow!
A walk through the cellars of the Contucci enoteca in Montepulciano.The Piazza Grande in Montepulciano.Marsha enjoying the breeze and the views in Montepulciano.Making a pit stop in Montepulciano.Jeff and Brian make a new friend.Shopping the streets of Montepulciano.
The winding road seen on many postcards and calendars.Yes, they did make the drive down the road and lived to tell about it.Brian gets the good shots of a poppy field near Pienza.Unusual little Bagno Vignoni.Larry and Marsha in Bagno Vignoni.Jeff and Jan enjoy Santa Anna Camprena monastery.
Hitting a dance festival in Pienza.A visit to the Avignonese winery.A walk in the vineyards.The lovely vineyards and our guide Monica.Larry and Jan in the cellars.Sitting down to enjoy a taste of the Avignonese wines.
Thank goodness for the escalator in Cortona.Jan and Jeff enjoy the amazing views from Cortona.Another delicious lunch in a stunning spot in Cortona.A visit to the walled town of Monterriggione.Walking the ramparts in Monterriggione.Lovely little Monterriggione.
Jeff finds a new friend. They sort of look alike don't you think?Next stop San Gimignano, city of towers.Our dinner with a view at La Terrazza.Yes, this hilltown is real. Medieval streets of San Gimignano.
An excursion to visit the wine estate of Castello Verrazzano.Enjoying a tour of the castle grounds with Mateo.This place is just beautiful!A visit to the ancient againg cellars. This area is from the 10th century.Time to sit down and enjoy a multi course meal of homemade Tuscan favorites with Verrazzano wines.The lavender was beginning to bloom and the smell was wonderful.
An adventure to learn about making Olive Oil near Volterra. Mateo, our guide has all the information.Checking out the modern olive press.Doing some olive oil tasting. Next it was time to visit a pecorino cheese farm.One of the farm kittens.Making the pecorino cheese.