A Sunday trek in the Maremma

in the mountains surrounding the glorious little village of Montorsaio, from which it is possible to glimpse the sea by Grossetto. 

And we did, as the mists cleared towards evening, after our 12 k. hike through the misty mountain paths, where the hunt for cinghiale (wild boar) was in full swing:

                                           

                                                    

and where we visited the ruins of an old Benedictine monastery.

before returning to the  village of Montorsaio  and discovering the reason why this village has a special claim to fame: We were lucky enough to catch the last day of the display of the numerous Presepes that are dotted all around the village streets: every house has one displayed, all attempting to outdo each other in beauty and creativity,

with the main attraction being the largest of them all, featuring terracotta figures which are portraits of the village population:

including some of the wild boar hunters. Who knows, the one below we had perhaps met on our misty walk!