As we continue to increase our photo gallery, we encourage all of our owners to send in their favourite photos taken at Borgo di Vagli Each month one high resolution photo is chosen and circulated electronically; the winner being presented with a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino when they are next at their 'Home in Tuscany'.

Below are the winning photos to date.

Photo courtesy of owner Harold Kobbe from Bergen, Norway

One of our favourite photos to date.

Photo courtsey of owner Peter Farr from Perthshire, Scotland

            

                

    

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of owner Matthias Rode from Germany (ex aequo)

Another beautiful photo taken from the walking path towards Mercatale

 

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Photo courtesy of owner Brad Hawarny from Tucson, AR USA

Brad’s shot captures the privileges and essence of the medieval architecture. The snow covers all of the non-architectural elements and enhances the simplicity and pureness of the lines. And, inevitably, embodies a "warm" sense of the festive season...

 

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Photo courtesy of owner Dan Gigler from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA

Dan’s “S” photo is of one of the several mirrors on the 2 kilometer (1.2 miles) access road to the Hamlet and is so much more than an intriguing abstract shot akin to Salvator Dali’s genre: for our owners, it is a beckoning, an homecoming!

Photo courtsey of owner Susan Flynn from Pittsburgh, USA

Susan’s photo was taken along the “Shrine walk” and captures the location of Hamlet perfectly, nestled in the protected Tuscan hillside above the Niccone Valley with the 10th century Pierle castle offering a mystical backdrop. Over the centuries Vagli’s few stone roofs have witnessed the immensity of nature embracing everyone and everything.

And once more our access road is present…, reminding us of Alberto Burri’s “Cretti” Alberto Burri was an Italian abstract painter and sculptor. Città di Castello has memorialized him with a large permanent museum of his works. Many of our owners and their guests have visited the museum which is only 30 minutes from Borgo di Vagli

Photo courtesy of owner Jeremy Bilham from Dorset, UK.

Jeremy's photo succeds in summarising the most important elements of beating heart of Vagli: pure, strong, essencial architecture and nature. Bravo!

Photo courtesy of owner Else Kobbe from Bergen Norway

You may remember Else's husband Harald won last September's photo competition but this time it was Else's picture we choose - Else captured Harald as he was planning their trips (no GPS) to the nearby hill top towns ...what a relaxed, idyllic and natural spot to do so!

Photo courtesy of owner Lynn Waugh from El Cajon, California USA

The face in Lynn’s photo is not easy at all to spot unless you know where to look. As you may know Vagli’s life began as a watch tower over 600 years ago and the mysterious face carved from one of the corner stones has certainly been looking down over all the folk passing the watch tower from the beginning and now keeps a vigilant eye on our owners.

The face must have been carved by some shamanic craftsman who probably wanted to symbolize the protection given to Pierle Castle. Unfortunately, the words engraved below the head and snake, which would have probably told us more about that shamanic, mysterious sculpture, have eroded. This certainly enhances the mystery why it faces North”.

Photo courtesy of owner Lionel Pottier from Saint-Hilaire, France

 Photo courtesy of owner Matthew Milukas from Houston, Texas USA

Matthew’s photo witnesses one of those special moments that most of us have enjoyed, especially at this time of the year. They are normally long evolving scenes as the fog lifts and leaves the Castle clear that strike a chord of the senses and certainly memorable as the show plays out. It’s very difficult to remain indifferent…in front of such a performance of Nature and History.
Impossible not to recall France Mayes’ words:… we're looking down onto the Rocca's crumbling three towers, where Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Briar Rose all must be hiding. There may be a more mystical view in Tuscany, but I don't know where. 

Photo courtesy of owner Marg Dorcas from Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Marg's beautiful photo certainly reminds us of spring at the hamlet, especially with the little bird using one of the Hamlet's rosemary bushes as it's perch. The photo speaks of a warmer climate and is a reminder to us all that the joys of the new seasons are just around the corner. It's wonderfully joyful and what better portent for the new coming year...? Grazie Marg!

Photos courtesy of Steve Pentland Northampton, UK

I am sure you'll agree Steve has really captured the Hamlet on one of those mysterious, misty winter morning. Steve's handiwork shows the timeless ambience the hamlet exudes in the shoulder season.

And in Steve's words.
"The picture for me encapsulated the essence of life in the Tuscan hills, - a hard hewn life characterized by the angular juxtaposition of stone and tile, but softened by the morning light and mist rising from the valley - a promise of refreshed but bucolic warmth to come. The picture was taken using a Canon 5D MkII with a 28-300mm zoom at F5.6 to accentuate the foreground while blurring the background.

Photos courtesy of owner Colin Ridgewell from Vancouver, Canada

Our motivation was driven by the way Colin’s photos appeared to mirror one another: the first photo was taken from the road that connects Mercatale toCortona looking towards Vagli and shows the gigantic structure of the Castello di Pierle. For those of you who are familiar with that view, you can see “our” Hamlet almost “hidden” to the left of the castle, in the vastness of the wooded hills overlooking the Castle.

The second photo, taken from the popular “shrine” walk instead, captures the hamlet and the olive groves and the heated swimming pool, on the top terrace and surrounding woods from an entiry different shooting angle.

We were intrigued by the combination of the two images, because the second oneappears to work as a magnified portion of the first one; it indicates just how vast and unspoilt the protected area is that surrounds the Hamlet.

Our owners know well the benefits of this location - protected tranquillity, peace and beauty for themselves, their family and friends….forever.

And the award of May’s owner’s photo competition goes to Rob Sands of Winchester, UK

Rob’s photo captures the ambience of Vagli in early spring; the outside areas have been lovingly brought back to how they would have been centuries ago when the hamlet was home to several farmers and their families living off the land. A continuation of the homogeneous landscape so unique to the area. No manicured lawns or numerous brightly coloured flowers in plant pots under every window, just indigenous species.

For those of our owners who have stolen a moment for themselves to rest and shade under one of our ancient olive trees, they recognise the selfish transgression when we mention “sunshine flicking through olive leaves on a relaxed body with closed eyes.”.

And the award of July's owner's photo competition goes to Carolyn Higgins from Carlisle, Massachusetts USA.

Carolyn's shot not only captures the architecture of the stone roofs of the four residences in her picture, but her location choice is one that also represent one of the most architecturally complex area of the hamlet. Perhaps she knew that when architectural experts speak about the apparently random rural architecture in Tuscany, they might very well picture this view in their mind…

Fulvio often explained to us, this random effect is only apparent: there is a lot of unwritten "rules" that the stonemasons/peasants of that time followed.

First of all is the orientation, that was based on the Roman cardo and decumano (our current North-South and East-West lines); this guaranteed always the best position of the buildings in respect of the position to the sun.

Second, the respect for the topography of the place: they would have never "forced" a steep gradient, but always taken advantage of the existing flat areas.

Third, the use of the material, that was always, as we would say today... "Km.Zero" and consequently the most homogeneous.

Forth, the constant use of the same method of construction and features...; look out at the roofs, walls, doors and windows, stone walls of the paths... as Frances Mayes often says: The beauty of simplicity.

And the award of September's owner's photo competition for the second time goes to Steve Pentland from Northampton, UK.

Steve must have risen early to capture this very special scene - when the hamlet is waking up to a new day.

You can see and almost "hear" in his shot the peace and serenity that welcomes our owners each dawn at Vagli and literally "smell" the aromas of the vegetation.Fulvio often explained to us, this random effect is only apparent: there is a lot of unwritten "rules" that the stonemasons/peasants of that time followed.

And the award of this months Owner's Photo Competition goes to Lionel Pottier of Saint-Hilaire, France.

We choose Lionel's photo not necessarily because he participated in our olive harvest, but he managed to capture the magic of our annual tradition.An arduous time of the year when family and friends gather and share stories of the past and gossip… but all in good fun. The "workers" are traditionally awarded with a Tuscan lunch consisting of thick slices of freshly baked bread,finocchiona, rigatino, wild boar sausage, and all types of pecorino cheeses and lots of red wine, served on an old blanket, around which everybody sits down and enjoys the clear blue skies and warm autumn sun.

Not to be confused by Claude Monet's picture "Luncheon on the Grass".