The Villa Carlotta

It is Sunday and we are on the ferry to Tremezzo across the lake from Bellagio to visit the 17th century Villa Carlotta.

 

The morning sun lights up the warm colours of the buildings as we pull into the dock. It is a short walk along the lake to the Villa. Jane and Carlo have been here before and lead us through the gardens walking higher and higher up the tiered hillside. We find a huge stone picnic table and settle in to do a drawing of the things we have picked up along the way. Everyone has different items to paint, from pine cones, leaves, flower petals, even some pieces of ceramic tile

 

 

Brilliant Birds of Paradise.

Our musical accompaniment as we sit and sketch in the herb garden.

Orange trees trained to create an arbour over the pathway. The have a curved frame over top of the trees so they can be covered in the winter for protection from the cold.

Another three wheeled Alfa Romeo...this time a gelato truck..so efficiently mobile like our old fashioned ice cream trucks.

 

We have open ferry tickets so end up going back to Bellagio with a few of our group later in the afternoon. There is always something to sketch while we wait. This was a section of the lake wall with steps going down if you wanted to go in the water. A little too much ferry traffic for many bathers here. The Italians say they don't go in the lake til July and if you see anyone in the water at this time of year they will be Germans. A hardier nation I guess:)

Tortellini and white wine for dinner at the top of the cobblestones. We eat, drink, relax and people watch after another busy day. A very happy feeling knowing it is all down hill to our hotel.

 

 

 

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