Colle di Val d’Elsa

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Very serendipitous when you chance upon unexpected pretty villages while on your way to another pretty village … then you’re completely waylaid with all well-intentioned plans tossed peremptorily into the vineyards. That’s what happened to us as we drove past Colle di Val d’Elsa. And Elsa’s not a girl, by the way. She’s a river. The Colle is the hill on which massive stone walls and turrets and ramparts encircle a rustic, characterful Medieval village. A restaurateur, wily as a fox, has appropriated two corner turrets on the ramparts, connected by a bridge, in which to establish his trattoria — drawing hordes of visitors all day long. Jazz and American Smooth music wafts down to the carpark from the turret terraces, reeling us all in like lemmings. The 180-degree views over the Tuscan landscape are great, a cooling breeze takes the edge off the 30-plus-degree C temperatures, bottles of wine sit chilling in silver ice buckets.

What’s not to like?

       

       

Today, Colle di Val d’Elsa is known for its glass-blowers and galleries display exquisitely delicate art pieces. I spotted this amazing porcupine in one of the windows. Just check out those quills!

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And to close off, this one’s for my cat-mad friend. You know who you are!

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