Rambling through Radda

We spent today as we began - at a leisurely pace - and it was a pleasure.

Although we awoke at 6 am to the sound of thunder and the continuation of the rain of last night, the day had cleared by the time we had all done some handwashing and decorated our rooms with it. And although at times throughout the day it looked threatening, it remained cool but dry. 

Following a slow-paced breakfast we set out to explore the village of Radda in Chianti. In the heart of the region famed for the Chianti Classico wines (recognisable by the black rooster logo), the village is small and relatively quiet, with a range of small shops aimed at tourists, cafes, gelato sellers and wine bars. It also boasts a medical centre, small supermarket and the usual shops to support a small community. It retains its ancient character and remnants of the wall that once surrounded it, however. 

The town also boasts some spectacular views of the Tuscan countryside - the sort that makes you think you have just stepped into a travel brochure. The public gardens boasted a ‘ponto panoramico’ with stunning views into valleys and rolling hills. On the other side of the road, the vista is one of curated olive groves and manicured wineries delineated with rows of cyprus trees - exactly as you expect in Tuscany. 

After we finished our ramble, we found the  Enoteca e Wine Bar  tucked away under the streets of Radda in remnants of medieval tunnels - the perfect location for a glass of Rosssata and a beautifully fresh Caprese salad of flavoursome tomatoes, basil and burrata cheese. Then it was time for a bit more browsing before heading back to our accommodation for a couple of hours of R and R before our Tuscan cooking class 
Chef Maria Victoria, whose job it was to teach us how to make traditional gnocchi, tagliatelle ragu and tiramisu, was, rather unexpectedly an Argentinian. She was an absolute delight and ran a tight ship over the course of the 2.5 hour class, teaching us many skills and passing on a great deal of information, culminating in our sitting down together to enjoy the delicious 4-course meal we had prepared. 

Tuscany is certainly weaving its magic around us. 





















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