The car had been in the sun all the day and the temperature was 48 degrees. I didn't know that cloth seats could burn your legs, but I do now. The point of going out when the weather is at its hottest is that cars have air conditioning.
We retraced out steps to San Casciano in Val di Pesa and then took the Cerbaia road for another sentimental journey from when we stayed there many years ago We then headed over to Montespertoli. A combination of the heat and 'la pausa' meant we were the only people around, but at 3.30 the village stirred again.
Montespertoli is a hilltop town that offers post card views of vineyards and olive groves set on rolling hills and interspersed with cypress trees. It appears that it was a castle in its earliest days.
The Church of Sant' Andrea was an original part of the Castle but it was severely damaged during WWII and has been rebuilt and refurnished with very good art from smaller surrounding churches. These include a Madonna and Saints from 1380 and tiles mounted on the wall from the 11th century.
Piazza Machiavelli, the old square has an interesting pair of small towers. One houses a clock and the other a windrose.
In the centre of the piazza is a monument with taps, dedicated to Count Guicciardini and Baron Sonnino who both played a role in providing drinking water to the town for all to use.
Wandering around the town I came across a poster for a watermelon festival to be held on 15th August - Ferragosto. This day, the beginning of the summer holidays, is synonymous with watermelons.
Returning home through San Casciano we stopped for gelato and they had watermelon gelato. A new flavour for this year's list, I paired it with vanilla and ginger.
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