These 2 days in Tuscany were dedicated to small town life. We spent a day discovering Impruneta and then the following day back at L'Ozio in Collina, "our" olive farm.
Impruneta is a town of about 15,000 just outside the city walls of Florence. The boys had the opportunity of visiting 2 different public schools (an elementary & also a middle/high school) & interviewing a town official to get an idea of life in a small Italian town. We also visited a local terra-cotta factory since Impruneta is famous for this beautiful pottery. This particular factory which has been in business for hundreds of years made planters for the Biltmore Estate.
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| The morning was spent at local elementary school- the boys participated in art class, some grammar lessons, and recess! |
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| All the terra-cotta pots are made by hand- |
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| ...then baked in a specially made oven which turns the gray clay into the beautiful red-orange color. Terra cotta means "cooked earth". |
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| At the Impruneta Mayor's office- honorary officials! |
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| The frescoed cafeteria of the Poggia Imperial School- once a villa of the Medici in the 1600s, became a school for noble families in the 1800s and now is a public middle/high school. |
Free time at the farm-
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| Playtime |
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| Quiet time... under the shade of wisteria- |
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| ...or the shade of a playhouse |
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