Castiglion Hike to Mami

Lunch isn't served at school on the weekends, so we just have to go out to eat. My favorite place to go is called the Garden Underground. It is owned by a group of young (late 30's early 40's) Italians who really know how to run a great business. The restaurant is outdoors, and was recently built atop the former dump just outside of the city walls. They were required to build a park in order to get the permit for the restaurant. The result is a large, beautiful, heavily used park, a wonderful restaurant and bar, and a large parking lot for the commune (with permeable pavers where the cars acutally park). Of course, the food is terrific!


Caprese (fresh buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and arugula) and the Garden Special, which is a mix of meats, cheese, beans, couscous, bread, tapenades, veggies, etc.


Kari with the park in the background.


The view from inside the restaurant looking out to the val di chio.

After lunch, we decided to walk up to the top ridge of the valley adjacent to Castiglion. The area at the top is known as Mami, and is where the ancient Romans, who moved in on top of the original Eutruscan settlement, built a canal to bring water to town. Remnants of the canal are still visible around the area.


Roman canal in the valley


Olive orchard on the way up to the ridge




This house was amazing. It appears to be vacant. It has a nice barn outbuilding and shed...wish it was mine!!!!!!


Typical Tuscan landscape with oaks, cypress, and olives.


From the top of the ridge, we found a field above some vinyards with a beautiful view. All of the vines were turning...it was so beautiful.


View of the field, vineyard, and val di chio.


Looking back towards the mouth of the valley. The second ridge from the right is Castiglion Fiorentino, and the hill on the far left is the Castello of Monteccio (the castle).


Fall Color!!!!!!!!



The light is so amazing in this valley...the turning vinyards were absolutely glowing yellow.


Olives


Oaks


I don't know but it's stunning!!!! (I think it's a maple of some sort)

After checking out the front side of the ridge, we followed the paved road over the backside of the ridge. At this point, some pretty ominous clouds were magically forming above our heads.


We found a beautiful stream. In true Kimba style, I was down by the creek trying to take the perfect shot, when I got all tangled up in a bramble. The more I struggled, the more it grabbed my hair and shirt. I called out for help from Kari, who proceeded to giggle hysterically and take pictures of me before coming to my rescue.



Of course, then it began to pour down rain. We were NOT prepared as it had been a clear, beautiful sunny day. We ran quite a ways, hid under trees, and ran some more before a little old Italian man picked us up in his car and prceeded to scold us for not having umbrellas!


We went back to the Garden, where the bartender got a big laugh out of our drenched state. We had to get a Bailey's and coffee to warm up!