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Other Tuscan Towns

July 31, 2003,

Dear Friends and Family,

While we didn't get into Siena, we have seen and enjoyed many other towns, almost all with ancient walls, old churches, good restaurants, and gelato. We'll let our photo album speak for those visits.

Stay in touch and tell us about your small town visit.

John and Marianne

The traffic up to San Gimignano was mixed. These little three-wheel farm vehicles show up everywhere - often on the same roads with large trucks.

We visited San Gimignano in the evening and the crowds had thinned. The stragglers seemed pretty wiped out by the heat after a full day of looking at stone buildings.

San Gimignano is most famous for these tower buildings. Medieval merchants would use the upper floors for secure storage and the town originally had dozens.

Driving back we looked over our shoulders and saw a wonderful sunset.

The walled fortress called Casole d'Elsa had added artwork to local brick. Pieces were often from children and youth, but others were more mature. It gave a very nice effect.

Monteriggioni was a small walled village near our hotel. The wall and set of towers were largley intact even though it had housed a simple collection of a half-dozen sharecroppers just 40 years ago.

At Montalchino, there was yet another fortress-with-towers. I know we've seen a bunch but still I pay my admission and climb the darn things.

The view out over Montalchino showed the "lumpy-flat" nature of the surrounding parts of Tuscany.

Pienze was one of our favorite towns - and the gelato may have been the reason. ( The proprietor was also our restarant guide.)

Here was the restaurant we were guided to. We've started taking pictures at our favorite restaurants because we find it makes everyone happy, It reminds us of a pleasant experience - and that's what vacation pictures are for.

In Pienze, we toured the Piccolomini Palazzo. I suppose the guys would get together in the arms room and compare swords or whatever folks did in places like this.

When not comparing swords, guest could enjoy this Tuscan view fro the Loggia (=porch in plain English.)

Another favorite restaurant's crew, this time in the tiny village of Mezzola. The town held little more than a small church, a half-dozen stone buildings for homes, and this restaurant. Nevertheless, this was one of the best meals we've had in Italy (or anywhere).

This large basilica sits outside the town of Montepulchiano. It was so prominant, we had to visit, even though we had planned to bypass the town.

Inside the basilica, we had a musical surprise. An orchestra of young American musicians were practicing. The sound they made was wonderful and magically filled the ancient space.

At a visit to yet another Abbey, we were struck with the view up toward the neighboring farms. The olive trees, vinyards, orchards, and villa seemed more perfect than a Hollywood set.

Inside, the church was a peaceful space - as it has been for almost a millenium. The peace was strenghthend by a capella chanting of afternoon prayers.

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	The traffic up to San Gimignano was mixed. These little three-wheel farm vehicles show up everywhere - often on the same roads with large trucks.		We visited San Gimignano in the evening and the crowds had thinned. The stragglers seemed pretty wiped out by the heat after a full day of looking at stone buildings.
San Gimignano is most famous for these tower buildings. Medieval merchants would use the upper floors for secure storage and the town originally had dozens.		Driving back we looked over our shoulders and saw a wonderful sunset.
	The walled fortress called Casole d'Elsa had added artwork to local brick. Pieces were often from children and youth, but others were more mature. It gave a very nice effect.		Monteriggioni was a small walled village near our hotel. The wall and set of towers were largley intact even though it had housed a simple collection of a half-dozen sharecroppers just 40 years ago.
At Montalchino, there was yet another fortress-with-towers. I know we've seen a bunch but still I pay my admission and climb the darn things.		The view out over Montalchino showed the "lumpy-flat" nature of the surrounding parts of Tuscany.
	Pienze was one of our favorite towns - and the gelato may have been the reason. ( The proprietor was also our restarant guide.)		Here was the restaurant we were guided to. We've started taking pictures at our favorite restaurants because we find it makes everyone happy, It reminds us of a pleasant experience - and that's what vacation pictures are for.
In Pienze, we toured the Piccolomini Palazzo. I suppose the guys would get together in the arms room and compare swords or whatever folks did in places like this.		When not comparing swords, guest could enjoy this Tuscan view fro the Loggia (=porch in plain English.)
	Another favorite restaurant's crew, this time in the tiny village of Mezzola. The town held little more than a small church, a half-dozen stone buildings for homes, and this restaurant. Nevertheless, this was one of the best meals we've had in Italy (or anywhere).		This large basilica sits outside the town of Montepulchiano. It was so prominant, we had to visit, even though we had planned to bypass the town.
Inside the basilica, we had a musical surprise. An orchestra of young American musicians were practicing. The sound they made was wonderful and magically filled the ancient space.		At a visit to yet another Abbey, we were struck with the view up toward the neighboring farms. The olive trees, vinyards, orchards, and villa seemed more perfect than a Hollywood set.
		Inside, the church was a peaceful space - as it has been for almost a millenium. The peace was strenghthend by a capella chanting of afternoon prayers.