by Penny | 16 Oct, 2013 | Books, Florentine restaurants, Religious History, Social History, Tuscan gardens, Wine tasting, WW2
There are some strange prizes on offer for being friends with the winning side in a battle – In the case of Diomede Leoni he won from Francesco I de’ Medici the permission to knock window holes in the City wall of San Quirico Del Orcia to let light into...
by Penny | 28 May, 2013 | Architecture, Books, Garden tours, Icons, Italian language, Tuscan gardens, Wine tasting, WW2
My first disclaimer – this is not an attempt to completely rewrite Katie’s enjoyable presentation on Monday night – my hope is solely to stimulate readers sufficiently to find out more about this fascinating women and her extraordinary garden , shown...
by Penny | 21 Dec, 2012 | Books, Cooking, News, Newsletter, Painting, Religious History, Renaissance Art, Social History, Tuscan gardens, UK Activity, Wine tasting, writer's retreat
Dog Days newsletter Dec 2012-2 Financial Crisis or not – life in Italy is certainly interesting and exciting! As I frequently tell people I meet, “If I wasn’t me – I would be terribly jealous of me!!” My life now consists of spending...
by Penny | 21 Nov, 2012 | Cooking, UK Activity, Wine tasting
First my thanks to Lisa Banchieri for coming back to London from Florence in December to give us more great cookery lessons! We have a lot of repeat visitors, some bringing their friends to this session but still room for a few more on both days As a Personal Chef...
by Penny | 2 Nov, 2012 | Wine tasting
Wine tasting at Montirinaldo – lunch in an original hunting villa in the heart of Chianti All under the sign of the Black Rooster – the Gallo Nero symbol of Chianti Classico We enjoyed a fantastic lunch in the old dining room of the hunting lodge, hung,...
by Penny | 1 Nov, 2012 | Cooking, News, Social History, Wine tasting
30.10.12 Birthday outing to Chianti We began our day at 09.30 from Piazza del Carmine -meeting our mini van and expert driver Filippo – I heard a few low grumbles from sleepy people, but essentially we were all very happy that the clouds had cleared and the...
