This series is about our trip to Italy we took in September of 2026. We rented a car and traveled the “road less traveled”. Other pages in the series listed at the bottom of this page and will have links as I write them.

Day 6 had us sadly leaving Pitigliano but excited to see what lay ahead of us on our travels. We had passed a beautiful church right across the gorge from Pitigliano a few times on our travels to and from the town so on our way out we stopped. It was Sunday and normally we would be going to church so we were hoping to attend mass there but the mass was much later in the day and we would be traveling to our next destination by then, so we spent some quiet time praying with our gratitude for a successful and safe trip so far.

Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie was built in the 15th century as a small rural chapel and then later expanded. Compared to some of the more elaborate churches in the area it is simple but still beautiful and in many ways, it was one of my favorite churches we visited because it was more simple. It was unique.

View from the church.

We were traveling north at this point but soooo close to the Tyrrhenian Sea that we felt we had to at least try to get there. We had planned to try to get there during our Pitigliano stay since it was just an hour away but there was so much else to see we never made it there. After some mishaps going back and forth on a highway with limited off ramps, we found our way to a camping grand and a side of the road parking lot. A short walk brought us to a public beach were we walked through appropriately dressed beach goers (we were not dressed for the beach!) so I could dip my toe in the Sea. In the distance, we could see the two islands of Corsica and Sardinia. Yeah! It may have only been for a minute, but I was glad for the opportunity.

Back to the road. We were using Google Maps to find places to eat based on location and reviews. One seemed close to the road and had good reviews so we pulled into the exit off the highway. It was in essentially a small rest stop similar to what we have here in the States. Unlike the States, no one spoke English so I had to dip into my Italian skills and do my best to order. You started at the cash register and let them know you wanted “due panani” which gave you then the option to let them know what type of sandwich you wanted at the next counter. I wasn’t quite sure what I was ordering but luckily, my husband and I are adventerous eaters so it did not matter much. They were slicing fresh meat for the sandwiches (head included!) and the tomatoes were bright red and looked super fresh so I had high hopes for the taste and I was not disappointed.

The next stop was one I had been most looking forward to. Three years prior, my neighbor had hosted two wonderful foreign exchange students for the year and since she traveled frequently, I was the back up house. The two of them stayed with my husband and I each time she was out of town. Both were wonderful guests and they truly became part of our family. (If you have never hosted a foreign exchange student, I highly recommend it – you learn and gain so much as a family.)

One student was from Italy and the other from Spain. I hope one day to get to visit the student from Spain, but was so glad that on this trip we were going to get to meet the Italian student’s family. They had kindly offered to let us stay with them for the night.

We arrived mid-afternoon driving on some back roads which felt a bit like home since we are from a rural area. Pulling into an opening after some woods, we were greeted by our former exchange student, her brother and dad (we met her mother shortly after) and they directed us to a parking spot in front of a beautiful stone wall. Her father is the caretaker for the beautiful estate they live on, that is owned by a French family who were not there when we visited. Out of privacy, I won’t share many pictures, but I do want to share that he does an amazing job taking care of the property. There are so many intricate gardens with plants that require regular pruning, irrigation and regular care and yet, the entire estate was in wonderful condition and overwhelmingly beautiful. Multiple buildings that were built hundreds of years ago but yet are structurally in better condition than many of our newer buildings and were graceful and understated in their beauty. The property is currently for sale and whoever buys it will have a lovely retreat that overlooks Tuscany.

We got a tour of the property including seeing where the wild boars come at night and tear up the lawn. Her father had some fencing up to deter them. (ooh… forgot a neat thing that happened while we were in Pitigliano! Right near the house there was a bridge over a creek and as we were crossing it one morning, we saw a wild pig with her two young foraging in the creek. Maybe a regular occurrence there but I had never seen a wild pig.)

Then we sat around the pool, dipping our toes in and chatting. Drinks were offered (and accepted!). I got to practice my Italian with gentle corrections and enthusiastic encouragement. I am pretty sure my Italian skills doubled during our visit just from the encouragement alone. I think her family thought we may want to see some tourist spots nearby (they offered) but truly, sitting and chatting with her family was one of the best parts of our trip. I hope one day we can host her family at our house. We were so appreciative of their hospitality and letting us be with them at home.

As dusk fell, we began one of the most enjoyable dinners we had while in Italy. We ate under a veranda outside that had a sweeping view of Tuscany and Monteriggioni. Starting with meats and cheeses, followed by pasta in a pesto sauce, a meat course, and the most delicious gelato (with fresh orange zest) I’d ever had. It truly was a banquet (which was a new word I learned that night — banchetto).

After a very restful night and delicious breakfast, we bid them goodbye. (Yes… this paragraph should really go on the next day but its part of this visit, so including it here.) I hope it is not a real goodbye though and they visit us in the States soon. I now know why we liked our student so well — her mother, father and brother are just as wonderful, so she has come from a great home!

Stay tuned for the next post about Day 7. Of all the days we had in Italy, it was the most “interesting” – not necessarily in the best way! Well, some of it!