Day in Chianti - Sept 8, 2006

The Palazzo Rucellai student body had a chance to relax and get to know one another while taking in the sunshine of “Chianti Country” on a day trip the first Friday of classes. To kick-off this semester’s cultural activities, all of the students, along with some brave staff members, were invited to spend the day together among Tuscany’s olive trees and vineyards and discover the nature so close to Florence.
Our day started in the morning with a bus ride from Florence’s train station, destination SOUTH, to the renowned wine region just outside the city. Amazingly, good weather and bright sunshine followed us during our drive and throughout the day. While a group of us headed off to historic “Castello del Trebbio,” where all the wine is made on the premises from the vineyards located on the property, the other half traveled to the “Villa” La Pieve to do an extensive tour and wine-sampling from its vineyard selection.
My group headed to the Castello for the day. We were invited to have a complete tour of the castle built in the 1100’s by the Pazzi family. As a guide led us through the Castello, I couldn’t help thinking about the history and secrets that its walls held. The most spectacular room was a dungeon on the lower level of the property. After wandering through the Castello, and escaping from the dungeon, we were invited to take a leisurely walk around the estate. When we took our first steps out the door we were immediately welcomed by rows upon rows of vineyards. The vines seemed to be ripe for the harvest, but after trying a sour grape, I decided to leave the picking to the experts. It was hard to believe these were the same grapes that are used to make the legendary Chianti we had tasted. Our walk gave everyone a chance to meet new people and discuss plans, classes and the professors that awaited us for the upcoming semester. Breathing in the fresh air of the countryside while walking amongst the vineyards and olive trees is something one reads about in books, and nothing could have prepared me for the experience. The walk was a perfect opportunity to see the Florentine landscape from a side not reachable in the business of the city, and in that moment I understood why writers so often compose passages about the legendary beauty of Tuscany’s countryside. Lunchtime snuck up on all of us and soon arrived to the lunch table the most important Florentine staples; pappa al pomodoro, pecorino cheese, and prosciutto ham, with flasks of Chianti to wash it down. Some students decided to buy some of the classic Tuscan items that we sampled at lunch, such as the olive oil, cheeses and wine. Surely these would be great reminders of the special day in the months to come. In traditional Italian fashion, ample time was spent at the table to talking about the day and the semester to come. Even though our day in the countryside was soon over, everyone was able to appreciate the beautiful scenery surrounding their new home, as well as the make some new friends in the process.