Castigliano del Lago
With the tourism pressure on Montepulciano we hadn't found a suitable B&B to stay in, but I had found a good one in Castigliano del Lago. 
Unfortunately on arrival we found it was also in demand and was 'complete'. Fortunately the front desk recommended another place close by called Albergo Macerine and we were fortunate to get the last room there, which was perfect to the point we extended for a second night
Unfortunately on arrival we found it was also in demand and was 'complete'. Fortunately the front desk recommended another place close by called Albergo Macerine and we were fortunate to get the last room there, which was perfect to the point we extended for a second night
Again Del Lago indicates a lake, and this is a very large lake in central Italy. Like the others it has a walled central town component and is situated right on the lake.
That afternoon when we first checked in it was very hot and we decided to enjoy the pool first. And while there noticed a very large number of purple Martins, a small bird that feeds on insects, particularly mosquitoes. They seemed to be doing a great job as well.
That evening we walked into the Old Town and found a nice ristorante to eat at where we ordered Montepulciano wine of course, to complement the Picce pasta Carbonara. Picce is a homemade slightly thicker pasta and it was very good.
As the seating is fairly close together we heard a German couple speak English to the waitress to order their meal and we began to have a conversation with them. He was a rather grumpy fellow who didn't really like his EU neighboring countries that well.
Then at one point another voice could be heard and a lady from a 2nd table behind us began to ask where we were from. Once that was established we determined she was from Amersfoort NL and she had her husband and father with her.
For the next 1/2 hr. our tables engaged in a very funny conversation on a number of stories we each told. The rest of the restaurant looked on at the animated conversation where I had pulled back my chair so I could face the other two tables.
It was a very fun evening.
The next day since the weather was so great we decided to stay and did a walk around the whole town.
Italy has had a drought this summer like we have had at home, and we found out why there was a prevalence of mosquitoes. It seems larvae from mosquitoes has been buried in the lake bed, and as the lake has dried out the larvae have now hatched and are airborne again.
This is how dry it is! You can see where the grass was the waters edge before and now the waters edge is easily 150 feet away.
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