Had you asked me where in Italy I wanted to visit most before leaving, my answer would be immediate: Chianti, the famous Tuscan countryside known for its hills and hills of grapevines and winding streets lined with olive trees. So when Alessandra told me that she wanted to take Chiara and I — along with her good friend Olivia and the host daughters that live with her — to her house in Greve, Chianti during our first weekend in Italy, I had to actively push back the squeal that jumped up my throat. We weren’t wasting any time. After Olivia picked us up Sunday morning for the quick 45-minute drive out to the country, we arrived at Alessandra’s sprawling property nestled into the side of a mountain. I think the day is better shown in photos: our quick trip into the city’s center and its little shops, a walk through the mountains and hills, and a visit to Vignamaggio, the historical property that once belonged to Alessandra’s family. Gioconda Gherardini, or Monna Lisa (yes, that one!) was born there in the 15th century, and Much Ado About Nothing was filmed in its gardens a few years ago. The whole countryside, really, is like a storybook.
See more photos on my Flickr.
gabriela in italia 