Under the Tuscan Sun

The first few days of class we learned about the Study Trips that Loyola puts together for students to go explore Europe, one was The Small Towns of Tuscany- a weekend traveling through the Tuscan countryside, tasting the wine, food, and culture of this beautiful region. I was one of 23 lucky students to go on this wonderful trip.

We left bright and early Friday morning for Siena, for a walking tour and lunch. As we pulled up to this medieval city with it’s winding streets and buildings full of history, I fell in love with Siena. We learned about St. Catherine of Siena and saw her relics in San Dominico and through Art in Rome, I could easily identify the Gothic architecture with it’s stained glass windows and it’s vaults instead of domes. I lit a candle for my dad in front of the head of St. Catherine (the rest of her body is Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome). 

The Campo

Since we were late getting on the road, the walking tour was cut a bit short, but we were able to see the Campo where the famous horse race occurs in Siena. Each “district” of the city (there are 17 of them) have a horse and jockey that race around this relatively small course for the pride and honor of Siena. Before the race, each district brings their horse into their cathedrals and if the horse poops in the cathedral; it’s good luck. (Don’t ask me why, it’s a tradition). Of course these horses are some of the most expensive in the world and in under a minute the horses race around the Campo 4 times. 

After seeing the Duomo (which I thought was more beautiful than the one in Florence- I liked the color more) we headed to lunch. It was the first sign that food was the most important aspect of this trip. As I learned from Dr. Cavallo at dinner that night, “The best way to learn about a culture is to study the food they eat and how they eat.” The food in Tuscany was some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life- I didn’t have a single thing I didn’t like. Wild Boar Pasta, Steak with arguala and cheese, lemon pasteries were on the menu for lunch, with some DCOG wine (what it stands for) which is the highest quality of wine you can have, because it is guaranteed for quality. We learned all about wine and the tuscan food from our friends who were in the class, Foods and Wines of Italy.

We then all piled in the bus and traveled to the Aiole vineyard and winery. We tried 5 different kinds of wine: 1 white, 3 reds (Chianti), and 1 dolce which tasted like a very sweet liqueur. We all an opportunity to buy some wine before heading to Montestigliano for the night. Montestigliano is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. We were treated like kings and queens and had the most relaxing time at this estate. The villas were amazing and beautiful; I kept thinking how surreal for me to be there, how I finally made it to Tuscany, and it was everything I hoped for.

We had the 9 person villa, with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, we had a full kitchen and living room. We stayed up till after 1am and just talked and gossiped. It had been so long since I was able to just sit on a couch and talk to my friends. I made so many great new friends this weekend, we bonded over the love for food and the Italian culture. I know that we have a great last few weeks together. Dr. Cavallo was telling us that a board member of the trustees at Loyola knows the owners of Montestigliano very well, and that is why we had the chance to stay at this amazing 5 star estate for the weekend. So Ruthellyn and Ronald Musil, thank you so much for the opportunity to experience Tuscany and for the best weekend of my life. It is was unfortunate that you could not come with us this weekend, but I hope to meet you someday and thank you in person.

I should have known that after a wine tasting with prosciutto and bruschetta we would be having a large 3 course dinner. But alas, I forgot about the dinner but that didn't stop me from eating everything put in front of me. From this tomato soup with chunks of break and pollo (chicken) and an apple tart I was in heaven from start to finish. We had to waddle back to our villa for a chat and much needed sleep. Dr. Cavallo wanted to sleep in too, so we didn't need to be down for breakfast until 10. Needless to say, it was a wonderful night sleep. And don't even get me started on the showers....I think I was born to travel this way, at 5 star estates rather than hostels :)

We woke up to a breakfast of crepes, croissants, fruit, cereal, yogurt, tarts, and cheese. There was coffee, tea, and so many different kinds of juices. I didn't think it was possible that I could eat even more after the last night- but I succeeded, oh did I succeed.

After breakfast we took a short walk around the olive groves on the 2,500 acre estate that is Montestigliano. It was one of the most beautiful walks that I have ever been on. When you think of Tuscany, you think of rolling hills of fields with green and gold, and that is exactly what it is. The real Tuscany did not disappoint. Even when we got on the bus and got lost, going 2 hours in the wrong direction I couldn't sleep because I just looked out the window the whole time. I don't know if my Philosophy professor would say I had an aesthetic experience seeing the beautiful world- but I think I had one. I was overcome with the beauty of this area, I didn't think a place could be so gorgeous- and I've been to beautiful places before. But I think Tuscany takes the cake.

Once we finally got on the right track and got to the pig farm we were hungry and ready to see some pigs! The pigs that this man breeds are a species from the 1000's because they are seen in tapestries in Siena. He gave us plastic booties to cover our feet because of the mud and into the pig pen we went! He raises about 300 pigs, and he have a great amount of land because they need to be able to roam free otherwise the meat does not taste as good. It turns out the plastic boots don't help when the mud comes up to your ankles (and I was wearing my Coach tennis shoes) but the mud came off and I wasn't about to ruin my day worried about my shoes. I was in Tuscany have a prosciutto tasting with some of the best bruschetta I've ever had, where I rubbed the garlic on myself, salted it, and covered it with fresh olive oil. I told you I ate well on this trip!

Sarah and I with Niccola! The Chef!

We got back to Montestigliano and had time to drop our stuff off in our villas (god I love the word villa) and headed into the kitchen, given a chef's hat and an apron, and learned how to make pasta! The demonstration was given by the head chef of Montestigliano, we learned how to make pasta, gnoochi, and pizza crust that we made into bread with a lot of olive oil. It was so good. He taught us the pasta recipe he learned from his grandmother. He said, if you want to land a Italian boy- the easiest way is to learn how to make fresh pasta. Now I don't think you need to cook to keep a boyfriend. But it was a funny thing for him to say- especially because he was quite cute himself! I think when I get home my dad and I are going to try to make fresh pasta. I think we could do it. 

We had some free time but soon enough, it was dinner time! We had fresh pasta Niccola (The Chef) made in the morning plus gnocchi with pesto. Yes, two pasta courses, I was in heaven. There was a meat dish of sausage with white beans. When they brought more wine out, Gabriella (one of the Student Life Assistants) asked Susanna if they should open more wine. Dr. Cavallo (this is why I love her) said, "Is the Pope Catholic??" She loves vino and she loves spending 3 hours eating meals. We talked about our class and I learned that her two sisters were models, one for Dolce and Gabbana, her brother is a surgeon and she has a doctorate and a composer. Is that family amazing or what? She is an inspiration, and I've never loved one of my professors more than her. She makes the class so interesting and I have learned so much about writing and Italian culture because of her. She is amazing.

We started singing karaoke soon after dinner, and the vino kept flowing. If you learn any Italian before coming here know this: Vorrei vino della cassa (bianco or rosso) and piu vino! which means more wine! Know that, and you are halfway there to being an Italian. We sang "Stayin' Alive" "Volare" and by far the best song ever, Con te Partiro in Italian (I tried at least) It was amazing. We were no where near Andrea Bocelli, but I think we did a good job seeing as how Laura and I do not know much Italian...and we can't really sing. But it was fun nevertheless!

Hard at work!

We stayed up in the middle of no where in the beautiful Tuscan countryside until 2am. We danced, we sang, we talked, we bonded. I solidified friendships that I'll have for years and made some wonderful new ones. As I went to bed that night, I couldn't believe that I was this lucky.


The next morning we had breakfast at 10:30 and went on a walk around the olive groves with the owner of the estate, it has been in his family for 150 years and some of the trees date back to the Middle Ages. All of the men and women who work in the olive groves are around 70 years old. So I told my dad that he should have a new career after he retires, my mom and dad can move to Tuscany and pick olives for a living. I think they would like that. Plus it would give me the perfect opportunity to come and visit!

After the tour we went back to the main house where we had an olive oil tasting and learned more about the process and flavors that go into making olive oil. Of course the owner thought his was the best and I had to buy some for my dad! It was pressed on wednesday. He is going to love it. They toasted bread on the grill outside in the courtyard and we had bruschetta with the olive oil and a little wine, just a little appetizer before another big lunch!


After the tasting we had to start packing up our villas, we got our bags on the bus and we headed in for lunch. We ate risotto, pork, and by FAR the best tiramisu I have ever had. ever. And I'm not joking, it was so creamy and amazing. We were licking the bowls (and that's not hyperbole- I actually licked the bowl. Yes, it was that good. We stopped at the pressing mill where they make the olive oil and saw the intricate process that goes into making the olive oil. Let me just tell you- the smell was amazing. I don't remember much of the process, but I do remember seeing all the olives labeled in their crates. They are very particular about their own olives. I thought it was pretty funny.

The whole group in Tuscany

Before we knew it, we were leaving Tuscany and heading back to Rome. The 3 hour bus ride was long, but we slept for a while and before we knew it we were back at J-Force. I'm not quite ready to start up classes again- and I definitely don't want be doing homework. I have a renewed love for Italy and especially Tuscany. I can't believe my time is coming to a close- before I know it I'll be home. And I'll sit up at night wondering if it was all a dream.


I'll need to come back, I think Italy makes me sane. 





Ciao Bella