Tuscany's Hill Towns

Chianti Region

One of the great things about teaching is hearing my students talk of their travels.  Of course, I like to talk of mine, and the conversations are always interesting.  A couple of weeks ago, one of my students told me she and her husband would be traveling with their Rotary Club to Tuscany.  Even though I had been to Florence, I hadn't really seen Tuscany's hill towns.  She said there was room on their bus so I jumped at the chance.  Fortunately one of my other students and her husband were able to travel with us as well.

The trip was five days and four nights at Argiturismo Tuscany farms and the Sant'Anna in Camprena monastery, seeing the big-name towns like Siena and San Gimignano but also, the smaller "virgin" villages of Pienza, Montalcino and Montepulciano, with a final stop at the touristic Pisa.  I couldn't wait!  The trip was comprised of food, wine, more food, more wine and let's face it...I was in heaven.  

Our first day took us to the Chianti Region and San Cascino.  We learned about bees and sampled various honey concoctions and then traveled to a winery.  The winery and restaurant is the home of Maria Julia.  A charming, boisterous chef complete with a typical Italian chef hat and her undoubtedly real pearls.  The winery tour was conducted by her husband and has been in Maria Julia's family for centuries.  The winery bottles approximately 180,000 Chianti wines per year.

San Gimignano

San Gimignano offers an impressive silhouette from a distance being known for its many towers.  Originally there were 60 some towers, now only 14 are standing.  Back in the 13th century these towns were run by Nobles (think Romeo and Juliet) and each family had their perched tower to view the other Nobles coming and goings.

You can climb to the top of the tower and have an amazing view of the country's many hills and valleys.  That evening we stayed at one of the best farms complete with two barns full of sheep, and a donkey.  That night we were blessed with a four course meal, Prosecco (my favorite) and a disco DJ (think Saturday Night Live).  It was quite something to see.

Original art was not only on the property but also on the hillside.

Boris, Zita, Danka, Rasto and me

My student's Danka & her husband Rasto (my right) and my other student Zita and her husband, Boris (my far right) made the trip so pleasurable.  We all had such a great time.

Volterra

I'm told this is where the Twilight saga was partially filmed (Vollari and Volterra, get it?!)  I sure wouldn't want to only see this country at night.  It is so beautiful during the day. 

Volterra street art

Siena

It is said Siena turns tourists into poets.  After seeing Il Campo, Siena's largest piazza, and walking through town dodging cars and Vespas, I can see why Siena rivals Florence.  Courtyards, bustling squares, and Gothic church architecture, Siena feels more like a college town rather than a busy city.  I wanted to climb to the top of the Il Campo city hall tower, but didn't have time to do that and see the Duomo (Cathedral), so I decided to just have a drink with friends before heading out in the pouring rain for the rest of the city tour.

Il Campo Piazza

Relaxing before the rain starts

Siena's medieval church with its Gothic and Baroque style it gives new meaning to ornamentation.

"Virgin" Hill Cities; Pienza, Montepulciano and Montalcino

These little hill cities are ones rarely visited and as such called, virgins.  But make no mistake, there is a tourist flare to the area (Sting owns a villa outside Montalcino).  Their size may be small, but the area is still magnificent and grand.  Before visiting Montepulciano, Montalcino and Pienza, we stayed at the Sant'Anna in Camprena monastery.  This had to be the most incredibly picturesque place I have ever seen.  Breathtaking really.

Sant' Anna Monastery

Rick Steves', author of Europe Through The Back Door, describes the hill towns as a "vital slice of Italian pizza...crumbly crust with a thick, gooey culture".  I couldn't have said it better myself.  You just want to eat, and eat and eat them all, and go back for more.  The people are extremely friendly and inviting and the prices for wine, cheese and pasta are much more reasonable than in San Gimignano or Siena.

Montalcino Cathedral

Montalcino 

Pienza...I want to live here

Me, Pienza...What a View

View from our seats in Montepulciano

Hanging out...

Montepulciano

 Pisa

This town gives a whole new meaning to tourism.  I wasn't there doing "the season" and yet I felt it was awash with people to the extent I just wanted to leave.  I did take the proverbial photo of holding up the tower but after trying to work my way through the crowd I just gave up.  Frankly, I wish we had skipped the trip and just started the drive back to Slovakia.  I can't imagine what this is like in summer.  I think my head would explode!

Basilica

Cathedral and Tower

Cathedral side view

Doing my part