Montepulciano sits in the midst of the Tuscan Hill Towns. As you drive around, walk around, look around, there is literally a town on every hill. The vineyards and olive groves cascade down the soft green hills, divided by lines of Italian cypress and dotted with stone villas. Just. Exactly. Like. The.
Pictures.
So, so pretty. Montepulciano is a town of about 5,000. There are NINE Catholic Churches. Big, some even massive stone churches. And Montepulciano is also home to about 70 wineries. We drive around the hill town area today, on the way to Siena which is not far from here.
Siena is a lovely town, very different from Florence and more manageable, from a touring perspective. At the church of San Francesco, we stumbled into a tour group, led by a young priest from Illinois, who were attending adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament that is the Eucharistic Miracle of Siena. The story of that miracle is here.
The Miracle was just being unveiled when we arrived, we made our petitions here, and spent some time in quiet prayer.
This is the church that contains the relics, a preserved thumb and head, of Saint Catherine of Siena.
A short walk away is the Duomo of Siena, Santa Maria Assunta. A stunning church, and small enough (Very Large as opposed to massive) to not be overwhelmed. There is a beautiful tradition here, graces requested in prayer are acknowledged by metal hearts, usually silver coloured and delicate are hung on frames around altars. Every beautiful altar is surrounded with these hearts.
We had the opportunity to tour one of the Montepulciano wineries on our way home today, the Tenuta Valdipiatta. The wine technician toured us through the small facility that produces about 30,000 bottles per year, and the process that every bottle of wine goes through. Then on to the wine tasting, which the boys were welcomed to participate in.
Pictures.
So, so pretty. Montepulciano is a town of about 5,000. There are NINE Catholic Churches. Big, some even massive stone churches. And Montepulciano is also home to about 70 wineries. We drive around the hill town area today, on the way to Siena which is not far from here.
Siena is a lovely town, very different from Florence and more manageable, from a touring perspective. At the church of San Francesco, we stumbled into a tour group, led by a young priest from Illinois, who were attending adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament that is the Eucharistic Miracle of Siena. The story of that miracle is here.
The Miracle was just being unveiled when we arrived, we made our petitions here, and spent some time in quiet prayer.
This is the church that contains the relics, a preserved thumb and head, of Saint Catherine of Siena.
A short walk away is the Duomo of Siena, Santa Maria Assunta. A stunning church, and small enough (Very Large as opposed to massive) to not be overwhelmed. There is a beautiful tradition here, graces requested in prayer are acknowledged by metal hearts, usually silver coloured and delicate are hung on frames around altars. Every beautiful altar is surrounded with these hearts.
We had the opportunity to tour one of the Montepulciano wineries on our way home today, the Tenuta Valdipiatta. The wine technician toured us through the small facility that produces about 30,000 bottles per year, and the process that every bottle of wine goes through. Then on to the wine tasting, which the boys were welcomed to participate in.
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