In May Jennifer and I went to Tuscany. I’m a judge for the World Superyacht Awards and we would have the annual awards ceremony in Florence this year. We had three days of parties in Florence and at the Antinomy vineyards and cellars just south of Tuscany and them Jen and I continued with a mini holiday in south Tuscany.
More than 500 people were invited for the gala dinner at the Palazzo Vecchio ,which being built in the 13th century certainly is an old and very beautiful palace. And during they we tasted wine (and ice cream). And on Friday we went to the Uffizi galleries for another party in one of the most magnificent galleries one can think of.
And on Sunday we had a tour of the Antinori vineyards and cellars recently built and an architectural wonder. So different from the old Antinori palace in Florence built in the 15th century. We had a helicopter tour around Tuscany and could admire the vine yards also from above.
Then Jennifer and I spent a few days touring the medieval mountain towns of southern Tuscany. We went to San Gimignano with all its towers, to Monteriggione with an intact wall surrounding the town, to Pienza with its lovely views of the surrounding valley, we drank Vino Nobile de Montepulciano in, yes of course in Montepulciano and Brunello de Montalcino in, yes again, in Montalcino!
We saw abbeys and towers and palaces and delighted in wonderful dinners and the aroma of good red wine. We had dinner at Arnolfo’s restaurant in Colle di Val d’Elsa (2 stars in Guide Michelin). A wonderful time although (or maybe because) we were without our children.
Ponte Vecchio, Florence
View across the river Arno
Jennifer and I were invited with the other judges and partners to the Stefano Ricci shop in Florence. I bought my most expensive silk shirt ever while Jennifer enjoyed the company of eagles
Later in the morning we went to the Antinori Palace, still lived in by probably the most famous wine producers in Tuscany
Palazzo Vecchio, built in the 13th century, where we had the great gala dinner and announed the winners of the different categories
Loggia de Mercato Nuovo, built in the 16th century for the silk trade and with one of the best ice cream shops nearby (see photos from the family's Italian trip the previous year)
Jennifer was dressed in red on the two evenings in Florence. This is her Friday evening dress for a party at the Uffizi galleries
And this is for the gala evening on Saturday
On Sunday we went to the Antinori wine cellars and vineyards just south of Florence. Extremely modern and covered by vines growing on top of the offices and cellars
A helicopter view of the cellars and offices
An architectual masterpiece and comfortable offices, reception areas and cellars
Another view of the main building
Jennifer and I were offered a helicopter tour...
...over the Tuscan landscape
Annette Muller with Jennifer after the helicopter flight
Victor and Annette Muller. Victor is one of the judges and the founder and CEO of Spyker cards. He was also piloting the helicopter during part of the flight
After the weekend of the Superyacht Awards Jennifer and I were alone and went to San Gimignano, with its famous fountain
In medieval times each family should have its own tower, for defence and prestige. Still around 13 of those towers remain
Another view of the towers
Jennifer at the outskirts of San Gimignano
The next day we went to Monteriggione with its defence walls still very well preserved
The square of the medieval town of Monteriggione
Another view of the piazza
The walls surrounding Monteriggione
Sant Angelo in Colle from a vineyard in the valley below
Abbazia di Sant' Antimo, where the monks still chant their Gregorian tunes every day
Abbazia de Santt' Antimo
And a third picture of the lovely abbey with the little village of Castelnuovo dell' Abate in the background
View in the Val d'Orcia
View of Castiglione d'Orcia, another of the many mountain towns in this part of Tuscany
Detail of a little garden in Castiglione d'Orcia
View of Pienza
The square at Pienza. Notice Jennifer reading her Kindle at the far right
Jennifer reading in Pienza
A street view in Pienza
The first time I went to Montepulciano was in the 90-ties, and I photographed this view of the Chiesa di San Biagio in late afternoon sun with a film camera. I always wanted to come back and explore the church in more detail
Now I got the chance to retake the photos in digital form
The inside of the Chiesa di San Biagio captured with an extreme wide angle lens (11 mm)
Val d'Orcia between Pienza and Monticchiello
View from the walls of Monticchiello
Rooftops in Monticchiello
We stayed three nights at Castiglion del Bosco. The first night the sun set shining on Montalcino in the background, while we were having dinner. Jen just had to wait, while I got the camera and a tripod
The view from our hotel room windows another night
And a morning view. Castiglion del Bosco was situated so high that the clouds were sweeping by below us
