Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)

Michelangelo was born into a small-scale Florentine banking family. In order to supplement income his father took up short-term government positions and it was during such an appointment, whilst a judicial administrator in Caprese, that circumstances saw the birth of one of history's greatest artists in such an unlikely place.

The family soon moved back to Florence where, as an apprentice, the young Michelangelo soon started showing his precocious talents. The rest, as they say, is history. Working for princes and popes, Michelangelo was a painter, engineer and architect, but most of all he was a sculptor. His most famous works include, of course, his statue of David (Florence), the dome of St.Peter's basilica (Rome) and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (Vatican).

Although having left Caprese as a small child, I am certain that he would have made return visits. The local landscape around Caprese is represented in a number of his paintings, and most obvious of all is the inclusion of the unmistakable outline of La Verna behind the reclining figure of the newly created Adam, the centrepiece of his ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel, and one of the world's most famous images. Surely it shows that Michelangelo always kept a small piece of Caprese in his heart?

Although Caprese does not possess a Michelangelo original, it is still a wonderful experience to wander around the old castle precincts, soaking up the atmosphere and a quick jaunt through the little museum, before having lunch at one our favourite local restaurants, Il Cerro, where you can eat like a king. A wonderful selection of starters, homemade pastas (smothered in either locally sourced porcini mushrooms or truffles) and freshly roasted meats will ultimately defeat even the biggest appetite - and fantastic value too!