Here
we are in 'Poggio di Loro'. This knoll
which is part of the 'Prato Magno' is on the Tuscan
Apennines streches itself around a castle and the beautiful
church of 'Santa Maria Assunta' the origins of both
are lost in the mists of history. Documents of 1247
attest to the existence of the castle as the fief of
Count Guidi that with its tower, still inhabited, remainds
people of the potency and splendor that the
village had in those times. What a vista of
stone steps adorned with plants, aromatic herbs, flowers
of many colors rising and falling intertwines with the
carefully sculptured iron wrought railings; the houses
with their windows angled just so; in that way they
let you see their beautiful ceilings of wooden refters
and bricks.
As if witnessing a bygone era we find,
as we walk, a large oven which
is still used today. Since Poggio is at 650
meters over the sea level the entire area is
surrounded by Chesnut, Cypress,Pine and Oak trees punctured
by clearing that offer unforgetable views of the Prato
Magno and of the Gigantic cross that crowns it. Indeed
there even are paths that will take to the top for those
that so desire.
The Summer days are celebrated by
feasts in outdoor places organized by the local shopkeeper
and a group of people that have in theris hearts this
wonderful village. This is the context in which a big
old structure has been renovated with expert
attention to detail. Three homes have been created with
a sense of recreating a bygone taste; the furniture
and accesories do not fail to usher you into the comforts
of the past without, however, neglecting modern comforts
so that your stay will be enjoyable. Poggio di Loro
is not only a great place to visit and to live in, but
the smart distance separating it from Florence, Siena
and Arezzo enables programming visit to these magnificient
cities full of art and their surrounding, just
to mention Chianti. |