On Tuesday, we made our way from San Gimignano, through the classic Tuscan countryside of the Val d'Orcia to the wine town of Montepulciano. On the way, we stopped at the farm and castle at La Foce described in Iris Origo's book War in the Val d'Orcia - a dramatic account of the days in 1943 when the battle front slowly moved through the area. The farm played host variously to refugees, German deserters, Italian partisans and both allied and German troops. A remarkable story.
British prisoners of war were imprisoned in the castle for a time. The castle is not open to the public, but by chance, we met two local women there who showed us round. Both had tales of the war to tell, and one of them was born in the castle. Fifty-eight years ago, the other had planted the tree now growing outside the castle gate, seen on the right hand side of the photo of Barbara.
From La Foce it was only a few miles to our destination, the walled hill town - of course - of Montepulciano.
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| The view from the farm of La Foce |
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| Hilltop farm with ploughed land |
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| Barbara in front of the castle |
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The ladies outside the former prisoner of war barracks
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| The vineyards - source of the famous wine |
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| One of the fanciful sculptures gracing the square in Montepulciano |
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