Walk through Compitese villages

On the way to the Compitese villages, the white areas in the mountains were pointed out to us - that was marble.  Not sure how well it comes out in pics.

On the walk.

A fontana (fountain) of fresh spring water.

Cyclamens in the wild!!!

A watch-tower - no bells here.

This is a close-up of the box is where the head of an executed prisoner was displayed as a deterrent.  None there today, and it seems a bird has moved in.  We speculated as to who got the job of climbing up to put the head in!

 And olive trees everywhere.  Here are a couple of close-ups.  Tried one but it was bitter.

Walks, olive oil and Villa Oliva

A walk along the walls.

We had lunch at Fattoria Colleverde - Greenhill estate.  They produce olive oil and wine.
This is the olive oil explanation.

And a pic of the estate.

From our walk..

And the views.

We walked to Villa Oliva.
The front...

The back...

One of the supervisors - conversing in Italian.

Duomo

Our first visit was the Duomo in Lucca - with its campanile of course.

First ever consumer protection? This is in the front of the Duomo, and apparently it says that merchants shall not cheat buyers and they are being watched.

Our lecturer commenting on the labyrinth.

This is a statue of Ilaria, second wife of a lord of Lucca, who was able to commission this sarcophagus when she died.  Apparently she is buried elsewhere.  But the statue is beautiful.

 This is also another Last Supper, by Tintoretto.  He never left Venice so presumably he sent this down by courier when  he had finished it.

Pistoia

We went to Pistoia on the way to Lucca.

This is the Duomo and campanile.  Couldn't go up though.

St James is big in this church too and they wanted to encourage pilgrims. Somewhere, in there, is a piece of St James's cheekbone, purchased in Compostela. Follow the money!

And a magnificent silver altar, now on display.  This was meant for pilgrims to file past and was richly illustrated to keep them occupied/interested/informed  while they were in the queue.

 And lastly - a shop specialising in horse (equina) meat.

Safe drama

After breakfast, the safe in my room would not open.  The "colleague" could not fix it, despite having a bunch of keys and the hotel codes.  After 45 minutes, it was time for the tour to depart and I had a choice of staying with my handbag, or letting the staff open the safe.  In any case, the tour bus would return to the hotel in 2 hours on the way to Lucca.  I opted to stay with my bag.

So the gentleman returned to the room with screwdrivers and proceeded to dismantle the safe! Results below.  Now I know the hotel's safe codes - and he knows mine!

Tonight I shall just use a locked suitcase!

Day 3 Settignano and Florence

Today was another walk - through olive groves and general countryside.  It also rained - very lightly - so my jacket got a work out.

We walked to a town called Settignano and Villa Gemberaia, where we had morning tea.

Of course, there were gardens

But the surrounding views were also lovely.

Then we went to San Miniato al Monte in Florence.

Inside, among other things, they have painted beams.  Reminded me of some of those Chinese .palaces

And they had bells - on  a wheel.

And lastly, C is not "cold"!  That is "frigo".

   

Fiesole

Today was our first walk.  It was surprisingly strenuous with uphills and then down. 

There was the reward of some spectacular views of Florence.

This walk was to Monte Ceceri, where Piazzale Leonardo is - and where he launched his flying machines.

In the morning we went to the Fiesole duomo - with  a painting of St Leonard.  He was the patron saint of prisoners, and some other groups too.  Presumably the same St Leonard as in Sydney.

And selling fish in the main square.