France & Italy With Trafalgar Tours: Day 6 (Part 2)

January 9, 2012

Trafalgar Tours certainly knows how to take your mind off of the sadness of a trip coming to an end, as the second we stepped foot on the grounds of the magnificent Fattoria di Maiano estate, I no longer cared that in less than ten hours I would be starting the long journey back home.

Tucked away in the hills just outside Florence is the town of Fiesole, whose origins date to the 15th Century.  In the heart of the town lies Fattoria di Maiano, the estate of Count Francesco Miari Fulcis, whom had graciously invited our group into his house, so that he could personally show us around the property where his family has been making olive oil for generations.

Imagine living in a place so grand that it has its own chapel.  I wonder if there is a Patron Saint of olive oil that the family prays to?

Fattoria di Maiano covers almost 300 hectares of land.  This was my first time visiting an olive grove, which is surprising considering my healthy love for olive oil.

The main building on the estate, Villa di Maiano, is drop-dead gorgeous, so much so that it has been used in several films, such as Tea with Mussolini and A Room with a View.  The surrounding Tuscan views are equally as dazzling.

 

As we wandered around, the intoxicating scent of the fragrant olive trees was overwhelming and I could not wait to sample the different oils later with lunch.

It was now time to see the inside of Villa di Maiano.  Considering how stunning the exterior was I could only imagine what the interior looked like. . .

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Andi Perullo de Ledesma

I am Andi Perullo de Ledesma, a Chinese Medicine Doctor and Travel Photojournalist in Charlotte, NC. I am also wife to Lucas and mother to Joaquín. Follow us as we explore life and the world one beautiful adventure at a time.

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44 thoughts on “France & Italy With Trafalgar Tours: Day 6 (Part 2)

  1. Camels & Chocolate

    Gorgeous! Love the first chapel shot. Would make it easy to ask forgiveness for your sins–in my case, all the wine I’d drink and food I’d eat, no doubt–living so close to a chapel… 😉

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      Can you believe the shots you can take with your iPhone!?! I can’t wait to see your pics! Hahaha that’s a great way of looking at living so close to a chapel. 🙂

      Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      I would love to experience an olive oil tasting again. It was such an incredible experience!!! One that would never get old no matter how many times you did it.

      Reply

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