All aboard, and we headed to our next destination - a real castle!
Just a couple of kilometres down the road is Castello del Trebbio (Three Roads), a real castle (though without moat!) and a working one at that - producing wine and extra virgin olive oil. We had passed quite a few olive trees on our way into the hills.
The bus (conveniently) stopped in front of the castle's wine store, so we then walked up to the castle, and into the courtyard. Fortunately, the tour organisers arranged for us to have a tour of the castle, apparently not available to those who just drop in. The family who own the estate live in the castle, so they are not too keen on having it open to the public. And, not surprisingly, no photos were allowed inside their living quarters.
Castello del Trebbio was built as a fortress in the twelfth century for the Pazzi family. In the fifteenth century ownership transferred to the Medici family who converted it into a villa. The current family purchased it in 1968 and have sympathetically restored it. The estate comprises about 60 hectares of grapes, 10.000 olive trees and native forest over 350 hectares.
The tour group inside the castle's courtyard. I don't recall if the man with the black shirt/light slacks is "just" the manager of the estate, or also part of the family; I think just the former.
The person with raised hand is the groundskeeper, who has spent most of his life on the estate, and as such has amazing knowledge of its workings. He doesn't speak English, so had nothing to say directly to us.
Part of the wine cellar.
More of the cellar, although I think this is the same part as above, except the group has moved on, and so it's possible to see more ot it.
We walked through many cellars, some containing very old bottles of what used to be wine, but has long since passed it's "use by" date. We also saw the room where the olives are pressed for their oil, and had much explaining about virgin, extra virgin etc. olive oils. And we also passed this room, interesting mostly for the mural which shows the groundskeeper (left) with some of the estate's children.
And so the tour wound through the downstairs living areas of the castle before returning to the courtyard, from whence we rejoined the rest of the world - through this gate.
Looking back towards Santa Brigida, and the wine store on the left.
And this pretty butterfly landed on the dahlia just as I was examining the garden. It's dark wings and body parts provide quite a contrast to the flower.
The view looking out the front gate of the castle. I suspect most of the trees in the field are olives.
More olive trees visible beyond the wine and olive oil store at the castle.
And across the road a view across the vineyards which are also common in this area.
Looking back towards Santa Brigida. The building in the foreground is for accomodation, comprising 3 apartments.
Loaded up with wine and olive oil (well, I wasn't - it's not worth the effort to me, and I had other things to buy soon) we boarded the bus to return to Florence.
Another enjoyable meal followed, then traveller's chores took over in preparation for tomorrow's journey to Milan.
Santa Brigida
Italy In July