Other Glimpses of Tuscany

Leaving Florence, our next destination was Castello Vicchiomaggio. Castello Vicchiomaggio is a mountaintop estate near Greve and well-known for its chianti. The estate also serves as a restaurant and inn. We spent the afternoon there making pasta and then partaking of a wonderful five course dinner including appetlizers. It was mid-week and most of us were ready for fewer crowds and cities. Castello Vicchiomaggio was the right call at the right time.

Upon leaving the mountaintop winery, it was on to the friendly Tuscan town of Poggibonsi near Siena where we spent the night at the mountaintop Villa of San Lucchese. The villa was a wonderful, rambling, vintage inn with high ceilings, and a restaurant with a patio overlooking the valley. Everyone enjoyed the friendly, engaging staff there. It was a quiet evening for most, and a bit of a respite from another busy day. Yet, next morning we were up bright and early and off again before 9 a.m.

Soon we arrived at the medieval perched Village of San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage site. San Gimignano gained its status because of more than a dozen, ancient residential towers. It is in fact known as the "City of fine towers." Our visit there lasted through late morning. You will note that some of the best gelatio in Italy can be found at San Gimignano. It was well worth the side trip, and since it was mid-week, it was also market day. Lots of interesting stalls scattered about. Sadly, our guide gathered us up and we were soon headed south to the region of Umbria and Assisi, birthplace of Saint Francis.

As we traveled further south the sun kept growing brighter and warmer. We were now enjoying nearly perfect summery weather at the end of October. Life was good!