TUSCAN TOWNS
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While staying in Tuscany, we took several day trips to visit some of the most charming towns in the area. But no matter where we were, the scenery was stunning and the people were welcoming. Except for a few guided tours, we were set loose to discover these towns on our own.
Siena
Our visit to the town of Siena was fascinating. There is so much to see here and history abounds. When we first arrived, we visited the St. Dominic Basilica to see the shrine of St. Catherine. Encased in the shrine is the nun's severed head and thumb from the 1300s. It was an incredible sight and one I'll never forget. (Pictures were not allowed of the shrine, but click here to read more about this fascinating story.) Afterwards, David took us on an informal walking tour of the town before letting us explore on our own. We saw the amazing Siena Duomo with its intricate architectural elements and listened as the bells chimed throughout the town. Then, as we walked by the Chigiana Academy of Music, we stepped inside the courtyard to listen to a pianist practicing in a room above. Then we made our way to the famous Il Campo square where we were met with a roadblock! While this square is normally bustling with activity, it had already been set up for the Palio horse race which was taking place the following weekend. This race, which has the 17 neighborhoods of Siena competing against each other, has taken place for centuries and is an important event for the people who live there. So, we stood under the bleachers looking at the square and imagining the festivities that were about to take place.
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We then ate lunch and spent the afternoon shopping and exploring this bustling town before returning to Marcampo for a well-deserved siesta.
Lucca
If I could return to one place in Tuscany, it would be to Lucca. While Siena is bustling with activity, this quaint and peaceful town is the exact opposite. At every turn, there is a postcard-worthy view. Flowers and trees are everywhere - above doors, on top of buildings, on verandas - and every door has the quintessential door knocker worthy of a picture. The Guinigi Tower, with trees on the top, can be seen from all over town. Lucca is surrounded by large, tree-lined walls that were built in the 1600s to withstand warfare, but they now contain restaurants and cafes, beautiful gardens, and a walk path that is perfect for exploring the town by foot or bicycle. We spent the afternoon leisurely walking the path on the wall, enjoying and photographing the lush scenery, and shopping. Along the way, we stopped and had gelato that, alone, was worth returning to Lucca for. It was a lovely day that fulfilled all of my desires of visiting a small town in Tuscany.
Pisa
One of the biggest surprises of the trip was visiting Pisa. For one, it wasn't a part of our original itinerary, so it was a pleasant surprise to know that we would be visiting there. Secondly, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was nothing like I expected. Walking up to the grounds, it is clear that locals and vendors value the tourist here by the amount of souvenirs available to purchase with the famous tower's picture on it. Thirdly, I had no idea that the tower was accompanied by a beautiful cathedral and baptistery. Stories and photographs usually just focus on the leaning tower. So as we entered the gates of the "Square of Miracles", I stood in awe over the fact there there were THREE buildings, not just one! As we walked around the square, the vast lawn that leads up to the baptistery filled up with tourists taking the quintessential photo of holding up the leaning tower. You can tour the cathedral, but it has a strict touring schedule and unfortunately our timing did not allow us to go inside. In the end, I was glad to have the experience of visiting this popular tourist spot before returning to the peaceful Tuscan countryside.
Greve & San Gimignano
After our visit to the American Cemetery in Florence, we headed to the town of Greve. Though this town is quaint, Greve is considered to be the entrance to the Chianti region. The official symbol of Chianti wine, the black rooster, is prominent here and stands tall in the center of town. A street market filled the town square and offered everything from fashion to locally-grown produce and spices. I purchased a straw hat that I wore throughout the rest of the trip and some spices that I continue to use in my kitchen today. We ate a delicious lunch, accompanied by some Chianti wine, on a balcony overlooking the square before we headed to our next destination.
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San Gimignano is most recognizable by the many towers that create its unique skyline, but what I remember most about this medieval town is the shopping. Shops sold a wide variety of goods, but most notably ceramics. After we spent the afternoon strolling these streets, we boarded the van and headed to Marcampo for our first of seven nights.
Along the Way....
One of the great things about travelling in a small group is being able to make spontaneous stops along the way. And in Tuscany, there are picturesque stops everywhere. David drove our rental van and was gracious enough to stop when we just HAD to get a photo. As we drove through the Chianti region from Greve to San Gimignano, David stopped on the side of the road so that we could capture the views of the Tuscan hillside. On another day, when we saw beautiful fields of sunflowers, we pulled over to get a close-up look. And on the drive back from Pisa, we stopped at the Teatro del Silenzio in Lajatico - the site of Andrea Bocelli's annual hometown concert - for some stunning panoramic views.