The statues………

……….Tuscany alone has many, many famous sculptor’s works ….. it doesn’t seem to be a big deal to the locals…. (it was for us however!)… famous ART seems to be part of an everyday environment. In piazzas, churches, in nooks and crannies in walls. Mostly iconic religious works, but not entirely…….many statues and frescoes high up on walls have fresh flowers placed in front of them. My question was – who does that? It was answered a few days later as an obviously regular neighbourhood guy, having placed fresh flowers in front of an icon, walked back down the street with his ladder under his arm, to him ‘no big deal’. Michelangelo’s compete with Donatello’s, Bartolomeo’s, Baccio’s and Giambologna’s (to name only a very few)…. they are all wonderful and inspires one to study art history – ignorance can only take you so far!!!
During our stay on the estate “Fattoria Petrolo” we discovered in the little church owned by the estate, works by della Robbia……. way, way off the beaten track. The villa Petrolo is in the heart of the Chianti region and produces very good Chianti, Vin Santo and wonderful olive oil……..more about that later……….xxxxxxxx