Italy Lights up My Passion for Creative Mastery

MY HISTORY — ORIGINALLY POSTED MAY 31, JUNE 4 AND JUNE 7, 2023 ON INSTAGRAM@THEPOINTOFYOU

PUBLISHED 5/31/2023
Trip to Italy 2023 — Overview

It's taken me a month to go through all my photos from my first delight-full trip back to Europe in over a decade.

In the mid-90s, I lived and worked in Munich, Germany, for 3 years and then spent a couple of months there each year, for a few more years. During that time, I was making good money and got 6 weeks vacation every year (plus a bunch of "bank holidays"), so I traveled in Europe, a lot...and Italy was a favorite. Yes, very lucky me.

Not surprisingly, this trip stirred up a lot and it has taken me a while to reflect.

One thing that wasn't a surprise was how it felt, once again, like all my cells lit up with pure Joy at being in Tuscany (+ Venice).

The depth of history is alive and palpable...and the passion for mastery of "beauty" in the broadest sense of the word makes my soul sing. Above and below are videos/photos that give little tastes of that Joy:

1. Agriturismo Podere le Querci, just outside of the tiny hilltop town of Chiusdino...where we got to wake up every morning for a week.
2. Winetasting with Tuscan cheeses and meats at the beautifully restored @castellolaleccia in Chianti wine country.
3. A private cooking class at @podere_marcampo (3 hrs making 5 courses, and 2 hrs eating them, paired with their own wines).
4. A return visit to Siena (pic of the medievil Duomo di Siena cathedral).
5. A visit to the coast of the Mediterranean at Populonia and the Baratti Archeological Park, with Etruscan and Roman ruins (pic from top of the fortress tower).
6. A day driving through the heart of Tuscany (pic at one of the classic Tuscan photo sites).
7. Sunset into night, watching the city light up from the spectacular Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence (video below).
8. Seeing so much of Michelangelo's work, including the David (detail pic of hand), all over Florence and in Siena.
9. Botticelli's exquisite paintings at the @uffizigalleries (pic of detail from La Primavera).
10. The Grand Canal in Venice (pic from the Ponte dell'Accademia, with the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute in the background).

More to come...

PUBLISHED 6/4/2023
Trip to Italy 2023 — Chiusdino, San Galgano & the Sword in the Stone

For our first week in Tuscany, our home base was the upstairs apartment of Agriturismo Podere le Querci. It’s located just below the hilltop village of Chiusdino, that still maintains its medieval atmosphere, with parts of the city wall and medieval houses remaining.

Chiusdino is known for being the birthplace of San (Saint) Galgano (1148 - 1181), a valiant (if arrogant and violent) knight trained in the art of war, who chose to give up fighting and worldly possessions to become a monk and plunged his sword into a stone on the top of a nearby hill.

The sword is still there, in the stone, despite documented failed attempts to remove it (and is likely the inspiration for the British legend of King Arthur). Recent studies examined the sword and found that the dating results, the metals and the style of sword are all consistent with the late 1100s to early 1200s … and the sword is indeed one complete piece of metal.

The Cappella di San Galgano a Montesiepi was built around the sword in the stone and also houses the tomb of San Galgano, reportedly the first saint to be canonized through a formal process, in 1185.

In the valley below is the 13th century, beautifully roofless, Abbazia di San Galgano. I could have taken photos here all day!

Agriturismo Podere le Querci and Chiusdino

Cappella di San Galgano (built around the Sword in the Stone) and Abazzia di San Galgano

PUBLISHED 6/7/2023
Trip to Italy 2023 — Chianti, Castello La Leccia and Two Afternoons in Siena

Our first adventure day out into Tuscany was to Castello La Leccia, a beautifully restored medieval castle in the Chianti Hills. Wine has been produced in this area for over 2000 years, sine the Etruscan time, and Chianti has been recognized as a wine region since the 13th century.

The first historical mention of Castello La Leccia dates to 1077, when the noble Rodolfo di Guinzo bought part of it. In the 1400s it belonged to the Ricasoli family, along with a large part of the Chianti Classico area. Wine-making at the castle is mentioned in letters dating from 1529.

After walking the grounds and taking in the views from the centuries old stone wall, we enjoyed a tour of the winery and an educational wine tasting, including locally made Tuscan pecorino cheeses and cured meets, with the delightfully passionate and knowledgable Katerina. We learned about the strict regulations and testing requirements that must be met in order to be labeled Chianti Classico, Chianti Reserva or Chianti Gran Selezione — including grape percentages (80% sangiovese) and minimum aging and bottle times — and, of course. we got to taste and compare them … and ship some home … with a litre of La Leccia olive oil, too.

We spent the afternoon (and then another afternoon 2 days later) hanging out in Siena … wandering the pedestrian-only streets … eating pizza (mine was quattro stagioni) and gelato … visiting the magnificent Duomo di Siena (started in 1226 to out-do the Duomo in Florence) with it’s iconic facade of pink, green and white marble and signature black and white marble stripes, and the breathtaking interior, including artwork from some of Italy’s most revered artists … then just sitting in the Piazza del Campo, imagining the famous Palio di Siena horses racing around us.

I was already feeling so emotionally full … and we were only on day two.

Chianti Wine-Tasting at Castello de La Leccia

Two Afternoons in Siena

ADDED SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
Trip to Italy 2023 — Cooking Class at Agriturismo Podere Marcampo, then visit to Volterra and dinner in San Gimigniano

One of the biggest highlights of our trip was a private cooking class, given by the daughter/business partner of a Michelin Star Restauranteur and wine-maker (who had recently passed) — in the family kitchen at Agriturismo Podere Marcampo. When we arrived, the dining room table was prepared with four food-prepping stations, one for each of us. We immediately set to work making: rustic bread; zucchini tart with aromatic herbs; ravioli with sweet ricotta chesse and fresh tomato sauce; stuffed guinea fowl breast with spinach; and chocolate soufflé for dessert. So much work and so much fun!

Four hours later we were enjoying the fruits of our labor, each course paired with the perfect Marcampo wine. Two more hours later and we were stuffed and ready for a nap — I mean a walk through nearby Volterra … followed by a late lite dinner and evening stroll through San Gimignano.

FUN STORY: In the family sitting area at Podere Marcampo were stacks and stacks of boxes, which seemed a little out of place. We soon learned that these were our instructor’s wedding presents from two days before. Congratulazioni!

Private Cooking Class at Agriturismo Podere Marcampo