San Giovanni d'Asso, Tuscany, 22-24 March 2009

Through our friends C&T, we came to know of the existence of this tiny hilltown that is the ideal base from which to explore southern Tuscany. In 3 days we went through Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, Petroio, with a swing through Chianti.

We also went through a lot of wine (Avignonese Vino Nobile de Montepulciano), pasta, rabbit and pork !

Driving was not more than 2-3 hours a day, thanks to our trusty SEAT Leon hatchback manned by super driver Mr Bear who developed a headache after the 3rd day on the road, especially with Ms Bear's somewhat hazy directions on occasion. We soon learnt that routes marked green for "scenic" on the map are to be avoided as they curve and dip the long way round to your destinaton.

Montepulciano was our favourite hilltown - just the right size and mix of retail where we bought some boar (cinghiale) salami, pecorino cheese and wine after much sampling.


Pienza posed the biggest extremes from the standpoint of food. We had the worse tourist-type meal at a apparently popular joint called Latte di Luna, but it also boasted a sublime porchetta (pork) sandwich from a humble butchery where pork slices are carved off the roast to order.