Tantalising Tuscany

Saturday 7th July

Today we did a bus tour to San Gimignano and Siena. We had been to both places before but really like Tuscany so were happy to have another look - and the bus tour meant Rob didn't have to drive. At San Gimignano I ticked off 2 items - handbag (2 actually) and the world's best gelati.

Not sure about these ones.

10am is not too early for gelati. This was the shortest queue
we saw the whole time we were there.
Our guide said 'go to the one on the left. The other is a fake.'

The church in San Gimignano. Pretty ordinary from the outside,
but inside is another story.

The frescoes inside the church in San Gimignano were just amazing.
I remember being stunned by them last time we visited here.

Part of the original walls of San Gimignano. 

Absolutely beautiful Tuscan countryside.

San Gimignano.
The towers of the village have given it the name of 'New York of Italy'.

We had lunch and wine tasting at a family winery near to San Gimignano. The wines were mostly chianti - Rob did alright as he had to drink mine as well, even though this style of wine is not his favourite. The lunch was good too. The balsamic vinegar on cheese was fabulous, but I wasn't about to pay 159€ for a bottle. Apparently proper balsamic is just vinegar and grapes and the process of evaporation over a period of 20+ years makes the best balsamic.  That's why it is so expensive.

A short stop at the hilltop medieval village of Monteriggione. A bit of a climb to get to the town gates but inside a lovely medieval village. They were busy preparing for a medieval festival weekend but otherwise not a lot else happening there.

Monteriggione.

Church of Santa Maria.

No music happening yet. They were busy tuning up the bagpipes.

Final stop was Siena and as we were headed there we could see storm clouds building. Were we going to have another wet visit to Siena? Last time we visited in 2014 it poured with rain and we had to buy an umbrella (which didn't last one rainy day in Melbourne). Well, we bought the same souvenir this time around. It poured again.

This was the painted ceiling inside the 'verandah' of the building below.

Like the tiles. There was some beautiful ceramic works in Siena,
but the thought of having to carry them home stopped us from purchasing.

The duomo in Siena.

Walking away from the square where the Palio horse race is held every year.
It was on only last week.

The guide had been suggesting maybe we should buy an umbrella but we all continued on in the hope it wouldn't rain. Just as we were set to enter the square, the heavens opened, and continued for at least 30 minutes. Once it had eased off we were able to continue on, but we bought an umbrella at the next shop we saw. Cheaper this time around than in 2014 - only 4€. In 2014 we saw the guy marking them up from 5€ to 8€ when the rain started.

Along the top of this building are the heads of some of Italy's famous.
Dante is there, Julius Ceasar, Michelangelo.  

I hope none of my friends see me here.
Do you think they have my size in that colour?