Today, exactly one year ago, I signed my Expat Contract to come to work here in China. It was June 29th, 2022.
I decided to sign the letter in some meaningful place.
I chose a small medieval town in Tuscany, Italy, near my hometown. Its name is Montemassi. I was inside its ancient ruined castle, which is a sort of viewpoint.
You can watch all over the vast land below, and your eyes can reach the sea in the distance.
It is Maremma, my homeland in central Italy. You can see the map below to discover where this middle age village is located.
Italy is divided in 20 Regions. Each Region is further divided in smaller Provinces. My hometown is in the Region called Tuscany. Florence is its capital. Here below a map showing Italian Regions. Can you find Tuscany?
Ancient Villages
Actually, this is only one out of many almost unknown ones. These small villages usually dominate the large coastal plain.
Why did Middle Age (or much earlier) people decide to build on the top of steep hills, instead of joining the comfort of a large flat plain?
Mainly for two reasons: first of all, the plain was a large swamp in the past (and it was a lake in Roman times: Lacus Prelius, in ancient Latin language. Lago Prile, in Italian). It was unhealthy to live there. Second, pirates coming from the seaside were dangerous. Being far away from the sea, in higher positions, also allowed people to prepare against attacks.
Before Roman conquest, this area was populated by Etruscans (900 b.C – 100 b.C). These people founded many ancient cities, still visible today. Roselle, Populonia, Vetulonia, Cosa are some of them. Many of these cities were used also by Romans, who developed them further. They were also inhabited during Middle Age and after.
Many villages, however, are much more recent. Montemassi, for example, was founded during the Middle Age. The castle and the fortified walls surrounding the village have been built around 1000 a.C.
Climate and Colours
Here in China it rains a lot during the summer. Everywhere is green, plants grow fast and strong.
In my hometown, instead, summer is very dry. Complete lack of rain can last even for 2-3 months, and the sun hits really strong.
The land quickly becomes yellow and dry, but it is beautiful to see.
Many plants and trees have evolved to resist lack of water in the summer, and are always green. Olive trees, pines, shrubs and cactuses are examples. This creates a nice contrast.
Mediterranean climate VS Sinic Climate, after all.
Note that, even though Italy is really a small country compared to China, its climate is really diverse. In some parts of the country you can find completely different climates (and environments) even within 50 km.
Near my hometown, for example, you can drive one hour to reach the top of a volcano (Monte Amiata, 1739 metres above sea level… look for it in the map!), covered with the largest beech forest in Europe. During winter it snows a lot here (several metres), and you can ski and practice most winter sports. Drive to the other side another hour, and you find continental climate: cold winter, very hot summer. Drive towards the coast 50 km, and you find a very sweet mediterranean weather, with very mild winter and pleasant summer. The list can continue, and it includes all intermediate environments and climates.
This is due to the complex shape of the country: its mountain ranges (Alps protecting from the cold northern air, Appennines protecting the West Coast from the cold Eastern Europe air, and so on), the presence of many different kinds of seas (Western and Southern seas are much deeper than Eastern sea, Adriatic). Eastern coast, as a result, is much colder than Western Coast.
Who lives here?
In this kind of village you can find small communities, mostly composed by old retired people. There are several foreigners, especially Germans, English and French. They love the relaxed, natural and slow life here. Also several famous international people bought houses here to spend peaceful time, far away from gossip and mundane events.
Sometimes I also dream to retire and to spend my life in one of these small villages. Slow life, a small house.
A couple of rooms, who needs more? You can live outside most of the time, the weather is nice in every season here. A simple breakfast, a dog, reading a book sitting on that bench and enjoying the view.
I really dreamt it often.
Montemassi area divides Maremma Coastal Plain from “Metal Hills” (Colline Metallifere, in Italian). These hills are quite tall (above 1000 metres above sea level), and nature is beautiful. Here it rains also in the summer. It is a heavily forested area, and the few towns here are mostly surrounded by trees and natural areas.
Here below a video taken from Roccatederighi, another village above Montemassi. It is a nice viewpoint, around 550 metres above sea level. It was late May, so the landscape was still very green.
Roccatederighi, Maremma – May 2022
Coming back home
After signing the contract I came back to my hometown to eat a Pinsa (a special kind of Pizza) near the seaside with my family.
Nice memories.
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