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L'Aurora di Montagna in Sommocolonia, Tuscany

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Living in a Roman Hill Town was Awesome!!

Source: Dave Hagen
29 Nov 05

[Relax!] [Celebrate!]

The Elmquists (Norma & Tom) and the Hagens (Patty & Dave) had such a wonderful adventure while renting a Chateau in Provence in 2003 that they decided to increase their bond and try a similar experience in Tuscany. If one can have a memorable experience in France, surely one can create lifetimes of memories in Italy!!

This expectation turned out to be an understatement. Italy is a fabulous location for the vacation of a lifetime, and we were able to create one of our own!! We managed around the weather, which was only partially cooperative, and explored in depth the food, folk and frivolity of "La Toscana"!!

Our villa is called "L'Aurora di Montagna" or Sunrise of the Mountain. It is an integral part of an ancient roman hill town that has been continually inhabitated for 2 millenia. The Romans built a road up to this hilltop of about 5km in length and a vertical rise of about 600 meters. We walked this road (down only) and it is extremely well engineered for a constant slope to avoid losing the loads should the oxen slip re-adjusting their gait. The Roman name still is used today. They called it "Sommocolonia" or the Head of the Army Column. It is now a sleepy village of 45 homes overlooking the city of Barga north of Lucca. We loved our time there!!


Under the Tuscan Sun & Above the Tuscan Clouds!!

[Barga] [Sommocolonia]
We Climbed to Sommocolonia             Overlooking Barga
[Super Patio] [L'Aurora di Montagna]
We had our own Villa                      & Lovely Patio
[Firenze] [Siena]
We Traveled to Siena                           & Firenze
[Norma & Patty] [Ponte Del Diavolo]
But Returned via our Bridge                To our Refuge
[House of the Killer Bees] [Bewicks in Perugia]
We Visited the Bewicks         & the Chianti "Bee House"
[Cortona Piazza] [Cortona Artist]
We Bought Cortona Art       & Re-lived the Rieu' Concert
[Me Shopping] [Norma Shopping]
We Shopped Barga               & Met the Friendly Locals
[Our Villa's Pergola] [Dining w/Amadeus]
Restaurants were Super     But we Preferred our Pergola!
[Dave the Wino] [Grapes & Lemons]
We Sampled Local Fruit       Exceeding Our Expectations!
[Mediterranean Sea] [Welcome Paddy O'Brien]
We Got A Personal Welcome    & A Farewell From the Sea!!

Great Friends, Breath-taking Views, Centuries of History!


For more information

Dave Hagen
PO Box 134
Birchwood, WI
715-354-7503
hagen050@tc.umn.edu

http::/www.tc.umn.edu/~hagen050/project15b.html—Revised:1 January, 2013
Copyright © 1999 Hagens' Hobbies
hagen050@tc.umn.edu

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