24 May Poppies in Poppi
After a fast paced portion of travel, I didn’t expect the quiet tranquility nestled in the Tuscan hillside. The small medieval town sits stationary on a mountainous hill, looking out onto the glowing hills and green fields. The speckling of houses imprinted the lush greenery alongside fields of grapes and olives. Poppies were in full bloom, a blemish too beautiful for words. I absolutely loved Florence, but there is something about the countryside that claims my heart.
This portion of our adventure resided in the castles of the area. The tall towers of the 1200s still guard the mysteries of their predecessors. We took a hike to Castela de Romena. There a family owns own of the very castles used in Dante ‘s Inferno. The distance was further than anticipated but the view from the top was magnificent. The houses and cars became plastic models from above. The roads were scribbles on green paper. The flowers became shaded into the earth.
The castle in Poppi was no different. This one was more preserved, protected by the two wall barrier of the town. This one was important to me. This housed a collection greater to me than any antique or jewelry. It contained books., volumes and volumes of books. Some dated as far back as the 1400s. Tucked away in a small, unimposing town was hundreds of books from Monks and multiple copies of Dante’s Inferno. I felt a swelling of emotion from each hand-bound book placed before me. I don’t know if it was allergies or the books but there may have been tears involved. This is my gospel, hundred of great minds conversing on paper. Sorry to the nuns who took care of us because, if I had to choose, these books would become my new religion.
Also, I’ve continued my love affair with the Italian language. The town was so small that it required a healthy education in Italian. We had lovely tour guides that made it a point to speak to us first in Italian, before having it translated for us. We were almost fully immersed in the simplistic culture of the town. I am amazed to find myself now ordering and shopping in complete Italian. I’m not sure when it fully clicked but now I can’t help but cherish the way the words roll of the tongue, how it makes everything beautiful. Like the poppies on the hillsides, I dot my brain with new words. I cling to it to form a blanket. Because words are beautiful. Poppi is beautiful.
My renditions of the amazing countryside and the lovely flower of my heart.
