Montalcino - a small Tuscan hill town

We visited the Sant'Antimo Abbey this past week on our way to Montalcino. This Abbey was started in the year 800 and has been a pilgrim (peligrino) destination for centuries. In fact as we were walking up we saw someone who had been trekking with walking poles and all. As soon as I stepped in I could feel the energy of years of spiritual beings coming to this place. The smell of incense filled the church (same kind my church uses) and the simplicity of the architecture was beautiful. There was a wood carving of Jesus on the cross from the year 1200 hanging in the back and their were candles lit and even some low gregorian chant music playing. I took the moment in and wished that I was alone and not with a group so I could just sit and stay but there are pros and cons of being with a group and so after a few moments of sitting in the pews I joined our small group of 5 outside overlooking the gardens and a monk mowing the lawn.

After the Abbey, we headed to the small town of Montalcino. We walked along the streets and sitting on the ledge were four older Italian gentlemen with the mountains behind them, chatting, it was a typical Italian scene. We made our way to the Fortezza (fortress of the town) and were able to climb to the top which had spectacular views of the sunset over the mountains, the small town below and the beautiful orange trees of fall in Italy. It was a sight to remember and I didn't want to come down.

But after I did, I was in for a treat, the wines of Montalcino. Within the walls of this fortress is a wine cellar. The most famous wine of the area is called Brunello and we ordered a bottle of red with pecorino cheese, proscuitto, and salami. Mauro, our teacher was telling us that most Italians do not drink wine with out some kind of food to complement it such as olive oil and bread, meats-cheese, or with dinner. He sipped the wine and said it smelled of the terra (earth). It was delicious, there were tons of bottles of red priced all the way up to 500 Euros for bottles that were the last of their kind. It was a yummy educational experience and we topped of the night by strolling the quaint streets and eating some yummy dolci (sweets) under the full moon. I'll never forget this simple, yet beautiful town.

Ciao tutti!