The piscina at Villa Rossi Mattei in Arezzo

One week of our recent six-week sojourn in France, Italy and Spain was spent at the Villa Rossi Mattei in Arezzo,Tuscany. With the weather sunny and hot each day, it was great to be able to cool off in the villa's pool or piscina as the Italians would say.

Not everyone braved the water as it was a bit cold at first but as six-year-old Braden and almost five-year-old Patrick would say, "just jump in".  Once you were in the 7x14 metre piscina the water temperature was very pleasant.

It was a great way to revive after a day exploring one of the many hill-top towns nearby and historic places like Sienna and Assisi.

The pool area was also popular for a bit of reading and relaxing on the deckchairs and for enjoying a Prosecco or two as the sun set over the Tuscan hills.

Bronte baths featured in photographic exhibition

Tomorrow (2 July) is the last chance to catch an exhibition of photos taken at Sydney's Bronte Pool on show at the Iain Dawson Gallery in Paddington.

As the blurb says: "Wayne Fogden's painting-like photographs capture the quieter moments, in which lone swimmers do their laps or rest on the edge of the pool, pondering what lies beyond its walls."

I dropped into the exhibition during the week. While there's only 10 photos on display, if you are in the area they are worth a look. The Iain Dawson Gallery is at 445 Oxford Street, Paddington, near where Paddington Markets are held. 

Alternatively you can view the beautiful photos on the gallery website.