A mere 12kms today across the valley floor and then up to a hilltop village...sunny start but with rain developing. It was a fascinating walk - full of colour and movement! We passed through two villages heavily involved in the tobacco industry we saw the whole process. The tobacco leaves are a luminous green, and shine like a canola crop. Ironic that something so beautiful is so insidious and causes so much harm. Obviously a very lucrative industry.
Breakfast in our friendly hotel
We had to go to a little grocer to get supplies and found this awesome sight through one of the town’s walled arch.
Getting supplies. Making focaccia is a very series business. The sellers meticulously cut the meats and cheeses, weigh them, place them carefully in the bread, wrap them twice in paper or foil. A piece of art. All for €2.
Leaving Sansepolcro
Back on to the path and through the industrial area
Old grape vines with the sweet sweet grapes of the end of season
A short day’s walk
The first village we walked through was Gricignano.
A chance for coffee and a check of our GPS. A toilet stop as well. Bit of a surprise that it was a squat loo - my quads did me proud! Hopefully we are building up strength and not wearing ourselves out.
Then we had a lesson in tobacco farming in Mancino. The large leaves are manually cut and tied together and put on racks.
Some of the single leaves are transported by trucks to a depot. We assume there were different grades.
The racks are stored.
Until the leaves dry out
Some beautifully presented farmhouses in the area
Across the highway to Fighille and we were taken on a little steep and deep detour
Then came back to some more busy farms
Views up to Citerna
We start our climb
We reached the Convento Zoccolanti before making a further ascent
Reaching Citerna, a small fortress town
A 13th century fortress
Spectacular views of the valley
Small winding streets with picturesque architecture
It has a system of defensive walkways and underground cisterns for water
Several churches - 2 dedicated to St Francis
We made our way down from Citerna unsure exactly where our accommodation was or what it would be like. We walked along the highway..
And suddenly a country house appeared - Le Rasse, our booking!
Welcoming reception by the ambience and the lovely proprietors, Mauro and Claudia.They renovated the rundown family estate and opened the hotel in 2011.
A comfy lounge and eating area with light jazz playing.
Our room is modern and stylish but with an old world feel.
Our hosts and excellent chefs - quail and duck tonight with goat’s cheese and prosciutto blini to start and homemade fig sorbet to finish.
A really good fit today with a short, easy walk, particularly as it began to rain as we left Citerna.
M&M
2 comments:
What a wonderful day. So interesting and beautiful. Xx
The photo of the terrace, past the house to the mountains beyond looks like a painting. Beautiful.....JulieJ
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