From the moment we flew in to Charlottesville's lovely little airport I was rather taken with this verdant university town.

Our first stop was the university itself. Sadly the rotunda was still being renovated, but it didn't take too much away from the lush ambiance of the central quad. We walked a lap, ducking into the committee room/library, which was pleasant in the way formal Georgian rooms tend to be. After that we grabbed some lunch and second-hand books on the charming high street before heading off to Monticello.

Set atop a grassy hill covered in fog and trees, Monticello was a rather pleasurable place to visit. There is a nice visitor’s centre which helps keep the area around the house quieter. This area has films and displays to explain the life and work of Thomas Jefferson.

Whilst tours around grand homes are some of my least favourite things to do, this one was interesting enough to actually be bearable. I think there were two main reasons for this. First, Jefferson is a much more engaging character than many of the former owners of the European palaces inscribed on the list. Second, the tour was only 30 minutes long so managed to stop before becoming too dull. I always think I am going to enjoy neo-classical architectural sites more than I do, the pleasing proportions and use of space always look good, but I end up finding them a bit dull. Monticello had a similar feel, but some of the quirky design features and historical artefacts made it enjoyable.

There were plenty of other areas to explore, including the areas where slaves and indentured labourers lived which helped round out the story and contradictions of the site. Alas, the weather closed in and we also had to head off to meet some friends so didn’t get a chance to explore in more detail.

I’m really glad we visited Charlottesville, it was welcoming and pleasant and Monticello is a rather iconic site directly linked to an exceptionally interesting figure. Well worth a trip if you are in the area.

Site 6: Experience 6