Tuscany (Italy)

The rich, golden "sfumato" light rakes across the gentle fields of Tuscany at Sunset.<br />October 2013

Magical Tuscan Light
The rich, golden "sfumato" light rakes across the gentle fields of Tuscany at Sunset.
October 2013

Street Scene
Late afternoon. Montepulciano, Tuscany.

Near Montalcino. Built in 1188 a.d. The Cypress tree to the right of the bell tower dates from approx. 1200 a.d.Seven times each day the abbey monks pray in Gregorian Chant which is made all the more ethereal by the interior acoustics produced by the stone.

Abbey of Sant'Antimo
Near Montalcino. Built in 1188 a.d. The Cypress tree to the right of the bell tower dates from approx. 1200 a.d.Seven times each day the abbey monks pray in Gregorian Chant which is made all the more ethereal by the interior acoustics produced by the stone.

Room With A View
Sunrise. Montalcino, Tuscany.

Respite
Montepulciano, Tuscany.

Montalcino Sunrise.

Rushing to one of the seven daily prayers, this monk from the 'Canons Regular' (priests living in community under the Rule of St. Augustine and sharing their property in common) prepares to enter the Abbey of Sant'Antimo and join his brothers in hauntingly beautiful Gregorian Chant.

"I'm late, I'm late..."
Rushing to one of the seven daily prayers, this monk from the 'Canons Regular' (priests living in community under the Rule of St. Augustine and sharing their property in common) prepares to enter the Abbey of Sant'Antimo and join his brothers in hauntingly beautiful Gregorian Chant.

"Two Italian Tarts"
Street art in the Piazza di Montepulciano.

Timeless
Interior. Abbey of Sant'Antimo

An island of stately Italian Cypress trees is dwarfed by the blustery October sky in the vast, rolling terrain of a recently-plowed Tuscan hayfield.

Making A Stand
An island of stately Italian Cypress trees is dwarfed by the blustery October sky in the vast, rolling terrain of a recently-plowed Tuscan hayfield.

The "Plumber" of Pienza
Pienza, Tuscany.

The Val d’Orcia is a region of Tuscany, central Italy, which extends from the hills south of Siena to Monte Amiata. It is characterised by gentle, carefully cultivated hills occasionally broken by gullies and by picturesque towns and villages. In 2004 it was named a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO.

Afternoon In The Val d'Oricia
The Val d’Orcia is a region of Tuscany, central Italy, which extends from the hills south of Siena to Monte Amiata. It is characterised by gentle, carefully cultivated hills occasionally broken by gullies and by picturesque towns and villages. In 2004 it was named a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO.

Montepulciano, Tuscany.The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio, built in the sixteenth century, is seen at left just outside the walled city.

Tuscan Countryside
Montepulciano, Tuscany.The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio, built in the sixteenth century, is seen at left just outside the walled city.

Montepulciano, Tuscany.A fashionable "cougar" consorts with her "boy toy." Aside: he is wearing a tee shirt with the image of Marlon Brando in "The Wild Ones."This against a backdrop dating to the thirteenth century.

Antiquity e Modernity
Montepulciano, Tuscany.A fashionable "cougar" consorts with her "boy toy." Aside: he is wearing a tee shirt with the image of Marlon Brando in "The Wild Ones."This against a backdrop dating to the thirteenth century.

Abbey of Sant'Antimo
Sunrise mist begins to lift, revealing the ancient edifice.

Street Scene Composition
Montepulciano, Tuscany.

"Sensible Shoes"
These properly dressed matrons contrast markedly with their younger, hip contemporary.Pienza, Tuscany.

Acquiline

Bagno Vignoni
Morning mist rises over the mineral spring-fed baths in the heart of this medieval resort.

Lightning Strike
Montalcino, Tuscany.

Wash Day, er, Night
Montalcino, Tuscany.

The two vans were forced to back up to the stand of Cypress trees to allow the pick-up truck to pass. What is not obvious here is that the single lane dirt road is between two deep ditches on either side making a simple veer into the grass impossible.

Stand-Off
The two vans were forced to back up to the stand of Cypress trees to allow the pick-up truck to pass. What is not obvious here is that the single lane dirt road is between two deep ditches on either side making a simple veer into the grass impossible.

The sun rises and begins to illuminate Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps where it resides on the French / Italian border.

First Light on Mont Blanc
The sun rises and begins to illuminate Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps where it resides on the French / Italian border.

French-Italian Alps
L.A. - Paris - Florence took us over the Alps somewhere near the French / Italian border.