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| Siena |
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| Siena Cathedral |
This past weekend I travelled to the Tuscany region, to escape the hustle and bustle of Florence and experience the beautiful landscapes of the hilltop towns. Our first stop on Saturday morning was in the town of Siena. This medieval town has narrow streets, squares and aristocratic palaces that are rich in history. In the early morning we were guided around the streets by a tour guide who pointed out majestic buildings, churches, small museums that harbor a wealth of artwork, and the various medieval centers. At the end of our tour we reached the famous Piazza del Campo, which is one of Siena’s most important monuments. Piazza del Campo is the principal public space of the historic center of Siena, Tuscany. I learned that it is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural integrity. The weather was sunny and warm so my roommates and I joined the crowds and sat on the ground near the center of the piazza. We could not have asked for better weather! While enjoying the warm rays of the sun we watched as the crowds mingled by snapping photos and gazing up at the Torre del Mangia – Siena’s Bell Tower. Standing over 102 meters tall, the tower dominates Siena’s main square.
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| Perugia |
When it was time to break for lunch we moved away from the tourist center and found a quaint pizzeria tucked away off the beaten path. The smells coming from the kitchen were filled with aromas of warm cheeses, fresh baked bread, and a hint of spiciness from various meats. Each of us ordered either a pizza or a calzone and we were all overly pleased with our meals. Soon after we headed back to the busses and took off towards Terme Antica Querciolaia – which is a thermal bath spa! We were given the amazing opportunity to spend the afternoon at a place soaking up the beneficial and revitalizing warmth of the thermal water. You could choose among modern indoor facilities and a big outdoor swimming-pool park with thermal water at different temperatures surrounded by the quietness of a garden of trees. It was great to relax and lay out in the sunshine while escaping from the bustling city of Florence. After a wonderful day exploring the medieval beauty of Siena and the spending time at the therapeutic thermal baths we headed off towards our hotel.
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| Siena |
The next day we set off towards the hill town of Perugia. Just like Siena, Perugia is a medieval walled hill town with historic buildings, numerous piazzas, and modern shops. This town is a notable artistic center of Italy and the numerous frescoes and paintings seen in the churches throughout allow for a beautiful sight. Not only is Perugia a beautiful town with picturesque landscape views, but it is famous for its chocolates! Specifically, it is home to the famous Baci chocolates, which are individually wrapped luscious hazelnut with a little romantic love note found inside. Although our time spent in Perugia was short lived, it was just enough to soak up all the rich culture of one of the many presiding hill towns around Florence.
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| Castello di Verrazzano |
After boarding our buses once again, we drove off to our next destination – The Castle of Verrazzano. Castello di Verrazzano is located on a hilltop in the Chianti Classico area overlooking the vineyards, which fan out across the slopes to the edges of the wood further down the valley. We split into groups and took a tour of the ancient cellars. The aging process takes place in these cellars in Slavonian oak barrels placed along the corridors. Our tour was completed with a guided tasting of classic wines, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Vin Santo (Holy Wine) together with the traditional almond biscotti biscuits. During the tasting we had the opportunity to taste Verrazzano Rosso a red Tuscan IGT wine, Chianti Classico DOCG, and Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG. DOCG is an Italian wine quality assurance label called Deominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita. In a DOCG Chianti the variety of grapes that can be used in the production of the wine is regulated. The minimum percentage of Sangiovese grapes, the typical red variety of the zone, that must be used is 80%. For the remainder, the other grapes used is up to the discretion of each producer. Italian legislation regulates the use of classico and riserva qualifying terms for wines. Classico is reserved for wines produced in the region where a particular type of wine has been produced “traditionally”. For the Chianti Classico, this “traditional region” is defined by a decree. Riserva may be used only for wines that have been aged at least two years longer than normal for a particular type of wine. The castle grounds were beautiful and as the sun began to set we climbed back on the buses and headed back home to Florence. I had a great weekend in Tuscany and I know I visit again soon!
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| Siena |
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| Siena Cathedral |
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| Torre del Mangia |
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| Piazza del Campo |
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| Thermal Baths |
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| Perugia |
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| Perugia |
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| Castello di Verrazzano |
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| Castello di Verrazzano |
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| Castello di Verrazzano |
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