Chianciano & Castellina in Chianti

Our first stop today was the Etruscan Museum in Chianciano.

 

 

The Etruscan culture is very interesting and our guide was excellent. The museum has a collection of funerary urns that our guide has given nicknames to.

 

This one is called 'George Bush'.

 

 

This is 'Darth Vader'.

 

 

And this is 'Fonzie' because of his two thumbs up.

 

 

We weren't told a name for this one.

 

 

This is an Etruscan lazy susan.

 

 

And an interesting urn for oil or water.

 

 

They also made some amazing jewelry.

 

 

 

After the museum we went to a nearby "slow food" Agriturismo restaurant where we were given a cooking lesson and prepared our own lunch.

 

 

After lunch we went on to our hotel in Castellina in Chianti which is amazing. They will probably have to drag us all out of here when it is time to leave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is our room.

 

 

The steps go up to the bathroom.

 

 

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Orvieto & Civita di Bagnoregio

We had a free morning in Orvieto today so I took a few more photos. And I forgot to mention that to get into the town of Orvieto you have to take an elevator up the side of the mountain from the parking area. Locals are able to drive up to the town but visitors must park below and take the elevator.

 

This is the sign for our hotel - I love that dragon!

 

 

This is a side view of the front of the Orvieto cathedral.

 

 

 

Some other scenes from around town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the afternoon we visited Civita di Bagnoregio which can only be accessed via a bridge. This is a view of Orvieto on our way to Civita.

 

 

This is the approach to Civita.

 

 

 

And looking back from Civita.

 

 

 

Below are some photos from our wander around town. The first is of the main piazza.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decided to have a beer before our trek back from Civita. We found this wonderful bar with tables in a modified Etruscan cistern. The way in was down some steep steps.

 

 

Inside the cistern was very cozy.

 

 

 

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Deruta & Orvieto

Our first stop today was a family-owned pottery shop in Deruta. Everything was so beautiful I wanted to buy it all.

 

 

 

 

 

Next we went to a family-run winery, Tenuta Le Velette, for a tasting and lunch.

 

 

Before the tasting we were shown the ancient caves beneath the estate. First excavated by the Etruscans and later expanded by Franciscan monks, there is a large network of caves accessed by a narrow set of stairs in the old kitchen. There are still stacks of wine bottles in niches along the tunnel.

 

 

 

 

Those things hanging down from the ceiling are roots from a tree growing above the caves.

 

A lovely lunch was set out for us with dishes paired with each of the four wines we tasted, two whites, a red, and a desert wine.

 

 

The view of Orvieto from the estate was excellent.

 

 

After checking into our hotel in Orvieto, we explored the cathedral. WOW!

 

 

 

 

 

The inside was pretty impressive too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These next pictures are from Luca Signorelli’s lavishly frescoed Chapel of San Brizio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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