Some enterprising, vino-loving Italians have revived historic, so-called 'wine windows' as a way to socially distance whilst still permitting folks to enjoy a glass of wine. Apparently there are 300 of these windows in Tuscany, known as buchette del vino, that were traditionally used in the 1600s, in times of plague, to enable that the local citizenry could still get a goblet of their favourite tipple. Minus the scabs, sores and pustules that come with pestilence, of course. Quaint and genius.
I can't personally recall seeing any of these windows when I holidayed in Lucca. And if I had, I probably would have assumed they were religious niches. Who knew? I didn't. But hey, I'm all for walking along the street and a hand pops out of a random window and offers one a glass of wine...a nice Chianti, perhaps? So civilised.
