Who wants to face the end of a beautiful and most inspiring holiday?

But I have to say this has felt like the longest holiday.

It was that fourth week we terrifyingly committed to, fearful of leaving our beautiful Queenscliff Gallery that made the difference.

It was also the non-planning approach to this trip. It meant we landed without FOMO and with just one task – remember to catch a train to Verona to meet Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

The remainder of our questions revolved around timing for the next Espresso, Prosecco, cornetto, departing train or a trip to a Conad supermarket (pet friendly, I might add).

It’s this, and my many sketches now calling me to make something of them that has stayed with me on my return home, slowed my pace, and given me a warm feeling in my belly.

Arrivederci Cortona & San Gimignano

We left grand Bologna and returned ‘home’ to Cortona via a La Logetta lunch. That place is exceptional – you cannot leave Cortona without eating there.

I got one more sketch in before we left Cortona and walked out of the town wondering about the Vias and Vicoli I left undiscovered… kind of on purpose.

The stores are of great quality in Cortona. Unfortunately, the many authentic local artisans and traders are diminishing throughout Italy (as they are here).

Cortona also has an excellent museum and another feature gallery that was hosting a Dali exhibition while we were there, including Chagall’s works, but we missed it.

There was always something urgent to get to… like another drawing or Prosecco.

After a couple of rest days, we were back on the road with our friends, heading to San Gimignano for a night.

Like Montepulciano, I haven’t been able to get the town out of my mind since visiting in 2018.

We bought a few San Gimignano art pieces in 2018 that we still enjoy on our walls today, and so we were hoping to catch the same artists.

We purchased a Sergio Manzi portrait, which we have in our bedroom, and an etching of San Gimignano by a local printmaker who had his studio and workshop just inside one of the town entries. There were traces of him in the store – did I detect a more shaky hand in his work?

That made me think about how my work has changed and will change – hurry up and make work, Soula!

Italy is changed after COVID, as is the whole world. The small retailers are so sadly missed. But I know the reasons behind their disappearance as a small business owner.

However, I still found great goodies like Sicilian table linen and a hand-woven San Gimignano scarf (using Australian merino wool, mind you) in the printmaker’s shop… and lots of presents for my dearest little people.

And there were still four blissful days in Milan coming up to budget for…

I managed one more drawing in San Gimignano (to a tough audience of cats), and I could have done so many more, but guess who was starting to get tired (if you didn’t already notice from the writing in my last blog)?

Tired tells me not to force another drawing but instead have another pastry and macchiatone. I have become a good listener to my body.

On exiting the town, we paced ourselves and discovered the amazing Sant Agostino, my goodness!

In just over two hours, we were back in Cortona, and it was time to stay local, which was not tough to do from our Cortona location. Our dear friends spoiled us even more by organising an exquisite farewell the following day.

Il Falconiere is a 17th-century Villa transformed into an accommodation, Michelin (2024) restaurant and spa founded and run by Silvia and Riccardo Baracchi based in the hills of Cortona.

I’m getting less and less moved by floral sculptured food, but Il Falconiere is where you want to have it. It’s a whole Tuscan top-end experience. And I say that because, well, look at my view!

Each time I looked up, I had to remind myself that the landscape was not wallpaper. The wine and food were delicious and I also have to say that our company was pretty special.

I can’t wait to get that Tuscan landscape and the feeling of being with great friends and sharing excellent food into my new paintings.

Arrivederci Milano!

Oh, we fell in love.

I was so surprised at how much Milan reminded me of Melbourne (my Melbourne of pre-2016, not the now Melbourne).

That might sound insane, but some parts of Melbourne have the same mix of ornamental heritage with modern, post-modernist, and contemporary monuments that make up the unique style of the divine Milan.

It’s a mishmash, and its small centre is quite low-rise.  And then there were the trams of all eras, just like Melbourne!

Unlike Melbourne, however, design in Milan is exceptional. It’s another level and globally recognised, as it should be.

And this is why I keep saying that Italy has it all for me.

It satisfies all my loves: design, art, history, and my love for pure and simple food and wine in a divine landscape while being pet-friendly.

We shopped a little from our favourite designers, including Fornasetti, where we acquired something special called ‘from Mum’, which will be with us every day.

I also stopped in at Astier de Villate to stock up on my trusty click pencil (or few). I picked up a couple of other little delights…

The rest of our time was spent eating, drinking, and going through exhibitions (Munch!!), divine retail stores, and streets.

I saw many Milan streets I wanted to sketch, but aside from reaching my capacity, I had the urge for more design thinking: patterns, shapes, rows, and columns of Milanese characteristics.

There’s a sharpness to Milan, a very cool chic neatness that will stay with me and brew over the next months.

Gosh, that feels good.