We went inside the church dedicated to St. Francis and were treated to some beautiful flute music from Gianni. The cloisters have been bought by a hotel.
Couldn't resist this shot of someone's artful front entrance.
Again we were surrounded by beautiful countryside on our walk.
This shows the road we walked from Pienza.
We stopped for a group photo with Pienza in the background on a hilltop.
A short while later we stopped for our "sweet treats" ritual--custard filled bombolini--and folks took the opportunity for a little lounging in the sun
We got to hear another piece from our talented group leader... this time a little jazz.
Our destination was this lovely organic farm that makes its own sheep and goat cheeses.
The owner gave us a walking tour and, as with other people we have met running their own businesses, her passion shone through. She had such an animated face when describing the history of cheese making, the quality of their products, and the varieties they produce.
They wash their cheeses only in salt water in the aging process and store them in everything from hay to wine must to add flavors.
Then we had this fabulous totally vegetarian meal of salads (mixed greens and vegetables, and spelt salad with diced carrots, etc), farm made bread drizzled with fresh pressed olive oil, and then this amazing cheese course embellished with two kinds of honey (also produced on the farm) and their own quince jam.
After lunch, a few of us hitched a ride back to town, while others made the return "a piedi" as the Italians say. Here is Anne in front of our hotel,
Tomorrow we have a morning shuttle to the train station in Chiusi and head to Florence.
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