Coccobello under a loggia at Torre di Belloguardo
One of the more distinctive figures – even in the mass of expatriate community taking over properties from their original Florentine owners – was Walburga, Lady Paget.
Walburga came to Florence first in 1865 – when her husband was British Ambassador to the recently united Italy and when he , with the other Diplomats, moved to Rome she tried to avoid the move altogether. When he finally retired to England his wife returned to Florence and bought the medieval Torre di Bellosguardo – with it’s unbeatable bella-vista of the south of the City.
The tower in now a wonderful hotel – which we were able to view with a mind to Lady Paget floating round the castle in her voluminous clothes.
We then ate a light and delicious lunch by the swimming pool , over looking one of the most ” bello guardo’s” of the world.
Coccobello the pink cockatoo made a nice splash of colour against the distinctive green of the garden room at the hotel.
The walk around the gardens were enhanced by the views, the birdsong, the smell of flowers and the sound of running water – in some ways we could have been in England!
The gardens of Bellosguardo - and the view beyond
