Thursday, May 24, 2012

Terme di Saturnia

We decided to spend a weekend away from Florence.....in part because if we were taking the car out of the garage and through the narrow streets we should stay out for a while to make it worth the agony...........
So we decided to go to Saturnia for the weekend!


The hotel we stayed at was not the expensive Terme di Saturnia  ....
We were up the hill from it, with an absolutely fantastic view, in the Saturnia Tuscany Hotel.

I have to say, however that as we were arriving,  I muttered.... I hope that is not it..... I didn't have much choice....i.e.don't blame me!!! I have since changed my mind...somewhat!
Our view while having a before dinner drink was fantastic....



The architecture of the hotel left a lot to be desired, we thought, and they really need to work on the paper thin walls!  However the views were absolutely magnificent!! And the people there were very friendly and helpful..... and breakfast was very peaceful...


We had hoped to use the pool..... however we went to the Cascate di Gorello ( also known as del Mulino) on the Saturday morning in full sun....





but the afternoon became overcast and the pool was no longer an option after the rain started....

A word of advice to those thinking of visiting the waterfalls........ bring flip flops, crocs...... the rocks are very difficult to clamber over without shoes........

So we visited Pitigliano in the afternoon, which was very interesting, if somewhat alarming to get to as it is on top of a tufa hill/mountain with a sheer drop........

This is the road to get there....

A little scary!!

And it was also very difficult to drive around..........we went through this arch to find parking............... but there was none..........
And this tour bus had a difficult time.........

But the locals had no problem......



We had dinner in a restaurant in Saturnia  in the evening.... i due Cippi

which was really great.....definitely to be recommended......
We thought we were having difficulties finding parking until we found the town's huge parking lot......which was absolutely empty as no-one wanted to pay 1 euro per hour!!And it was very close to the restaurant!

Food there was excellent and we were happy to have a great table behind the fire (with safety glass)..... it was a little cold out by then!


This was when we began to realise that the restaurant was known for its beef!

We should have noticed this on our way in........


We had a much lighter meal.....


Followed by gnocchi.......

and Pork Crackling, a speciality of the restaurant....


Unfortunately the 'dolce' were too tempting to resist....
ricotta mousse with hot coffee..

and strawberry millefeuille....


On our return journey to Florence....in heavy rain...we stopped for lunch in Bagno Vignoni which was very interesting.

And having discovered their treatment centre we think this should be an excuse for a return trip in the future...

We can recommend the Osteria di Leoni.....

we had a very good lunch there..




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