Today was our last full day in Italy, and we spent it on another all-day guided tour in Tuscany.
Our first stop was at Oliviera Sant’Angelo, a small olive oil mill in Crete Senesi. Olive season is from October to early December, so unfortunately we couldn’t see the machines in action. Instead, we got a walk-through of the building, and we had a chance to sample the various grades of olive oil that they produce.
Next, we visited Podere il Casale. They are a small farm and restaurant that tries to be self-sufficient as much as possible. This farm has a small herd of goats and sheep that they used to make cheese, including the Pecorino cheese that Tuscany is known for. Lunch at the farm included a salad right from the garden, pasta made with wheat from their fields, and a sample of their cheeses. It was all really delicious!
The last stop was in Pienza, a town in the mountains overlooking the farm. Our tour guide grew up just outside this town, so he was pretty excited at getting to show us around! Not only did we get to look around the town cathedral, but we also saw a palace owned by Pope Pius II. We had some time to wander the streets before our guide dropped off back at our hotel.
