Byways in southern Tuscany . Orbetello. The Walls CHAPTER III The Legend of Bella Marsilia—Talamone—Al-BEGNA—Orbetello LITTLE beyond the ferry of theOmbrone you enter the charmingnarrow valley of the Uccellina, lyingbetween the hills of its name and an-other ridge on the inland side, oflower slopes, scrub and grass-covered,the Poggi di Montiano. It is a littleoasis between the plains at either end,a flowery, woodsy place where it isvery sweet to linger in springtime. The valley was part ofthe holdings of the Aldobrandeschi, from whom it passedin the fourteenth century to the Marsili of Siena.
Byways in southern Tuscany . Orbetello. The Walls CHAPTER III The Legend of Bella Marsilia—Talamone—Al-BEGNA—Orbetello LITTLE beyond the ferry of theOmbrone you enter the charmingnarrow valley of the Uccellina, lyingbetween the hills of its name and an-other ridge on the inland side, oflower slopes, scrub and grass-covered,the Poggi di Montiano. It is a littleoasis between the plains at either end,a flowery, woodsy place where it isvery sweet to linger in springtime. The valley was part ofthe holdings of the Aldobrandeschi, from whom it passedin the fourteenth century to the Marsili of Siena. Col-lechio, midway of the valley, was the central point of thisestate and is represented now by a group of substantialmodern buildings. From this point come into view three 36. BYWAYS IN SOUTHERN TUSCANY greater towers not belonging to the chain already men-tioned, those of the UccelUna, San Robano, and BellaMarsilia. San Robano, fragment of a famous abbey of theTemplars, ivy-curtained and beautifully picturesque, isdifficult of access, but I fancy that if on some moonlightnight you were to penetrate the enchanted woods thatdefend it from the outside world, you might descry cer-tain tall, grave figures in long white cloaks signed with ascarlet cross, and as they passed you might hear themuffled clang of armor underneath those mantles thatmarked them as more warlike than priestly, Bella Marsilia may be reached in less than an hour by arough footpath which ascends one of the spurs of theridge, all of which spurs are covered with dense green, thesunny highlights of the white oaks being brought intovividness by the rich bronze of the cork trees. This covertno longer ago than the last century sheltered many a roe-buck and wild boar. One is welcomed on the way byw
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecttuscany, bookyear1919
