A jaunt into Tuscany

Market day in Castiglione del Lago again. One of us has been clothes shopping again too! This market stall sells bed and table linen and towels. It is situated in front of the Palazzo della Corgna, built in 1563.

Changing hairdressers in Australia is scary enough but in a country where you don't have a real grip on the language it is even worse. Kel's usual hairdresser has been off work with an injured shoulder so he had to find someone else. Last week we spotted Walter in Castiglione del Lago and Kel was more than happy with the experience. I won't relate my tale but today I went to Walter too and I am also happy. (Can't really say the same for the selfie photo!)

We purchased some lunch items from the forno and went down to the lake to enjoy the perfect weather before returning home with our purchases.

We were on a mission this afternoon and it involved travelling into Tuscany, really that is just across the border! We were looking for a ceramics shop which Kel had seen last year but we weren't sure quite where. We drove through many well known tourist spots including Chianciano Terme, Montepulciano and Pienza and eventually arrived at the very nice village of San Quirico d' Orcia. We have been here many times and always enjoy it. I had a bit of fun photographing some of the paint colours used on the old buildings. It may be the makings of a post later on.

The gardens Horti Leonini have a parterre garden which includes art works. The sculpture exhibition had changed since last year so I presume it is changed annually, for the summer season.

Some original hand painted ceramics in San Quirico but not the shop we were looking for.

This old well was in the centre of a group of houses being restored. I also like to photograph the old iron work pieces seen around the villages and the top of this well is a fine example. More on that later too.

We passed a few of the quintessential Tuscan views - lots of magnificent farm houses with avenues of cypress trees leading up to the doors, this tiny church out in the fields which appears on Tuscan calendars very regularly and the view from Le Foce which is similarly popular and reproduced.

Late afternoon is not an ideal time to take photos from this popular spot. The storm clouds were brewing but we missed the rain.

The other possibility was Sarteano and here we found the ceramics shop we wanted. We have to return in a week to collect what we have ordered. Sarteano is preparing for their annual festival too, judging by the flags flying throughout the old town.