After two wonderful days in Florence, we rented a car and headed to Tuscany. We spent two days driving around and exploring this breathtaking region of Italy, staying one night in Siena and the next night in Chiusi.
This region is very famous for its wine and while we didn't do any wine tasting (we don't drink), we did enjoy some of the amazing food that this region has to offer. We also visited stunning medieval villages sitting atop hills and saw some of the most spectacular scenery.
This region is very famous for its wine and while we didn't do any wine tasting (we don't drink), we did enjoy some of the amazing food that this region has to offer. We also visited stunning medieval villages sitting atop hills and saw some of the most spectacular scenery.
Greve in Chianti
Located 26 kilometres south of Florence, Greve in Chianti was the first village we visited in Tuscany. This region and its famous ancient vineyards, produce the grapes used to make the ruby-red Chianti and Chianti Clasico DOCGs. "DOC" and "DOCG" stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata or Original Location Certified, which is the law that established rules to protect the naming of wines' original locations.
Greve is one of the nicest villages in Chianti and it is home to the Chianti Wine Festival (this takes place the first week of September each year). The main square in Greve, Piazza Matteotti is lined with nice shops and restaurants. The statue in the centre of the piazza is that of Giovanni de Verrazzano, a famous Italian explorer.
Located 26 kilometres south of Florence, Greve in Chianti was the first village we visited in Tuscany. This region and its famous ancient vineyards, produce the grapes used to make the ruby-red Chianti and Chianti Clasico DOCGs. "DOC" and "DOCG" stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata or Original Location Certified, which is the law that established rules to protect the naming of wines' original locations.
Greve is one of the nicest villages in Chianti and it is home to the Chianti Wine Festival (this takes place the first week of September each year). The main square in Greve, Piazza Matteotti is lined with nice shops and restaurants. The statue in the centre of the piazza is that of Giovanni de Verrazzano, a famous Italian explorer.
Antica Macelleria Falorni
We visited this wonderful macelleria (butcher shop) in Greve in Chianti. It was established in 1729 by the Falorni family, who also own a vast commercial enoteca (wine repository) that stocks over 1200 varieties of wine.
This shop is known for its finocchiona briciolona (pork salami made with fennel seeds and Chianti), but it also sells a nice selection of cheese and even has its own cheese cellar in the basement.
This shop has an adjoining restaurant, where people can do wine tasting while enjoying their products. This really is a pork, wine and cheese lover's paradise.
This shop is known for its finocchiona briciolona (pork salami made with fennel seeds and Chianti), but it also sells a nice selection of cheese and even has its own cheese cellar in the basement.
This shop has an adjoining restaurant, where people can do wine tasting while enjoying their products. This really is a pork, wine and cheese lover's paradise.
Montefioralle
Just a few minutes away from Greve is Montefioralle, an ancient medieval village still guarded by its original walls and surrounded by beautifully manicured vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees. We took a walk through this beautiful little village and got amazing views of the surrounding area.
Just a few minutes away from Greve is Montefioralle, an ancient medieval village still guarded by its original walls and surrounded by beautifully manicured vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees. We took a walk through this beautiful little village and got amazing views of the surrounding area.
Mac Dario
This really cool restaurant is located in Panzano in Chianti. Dario the owner is known as the "poet butcher" and this restaurant serves a selection of different cuts of meat (including the iconic Tuscan Bistecca alls Fiorentina, chargrilled T-bone steak). We opted for hamburgers, which were served without the bun (just the way I like them!). The food was excellent and the ambience great.
Volterra
This medieval town is probably best known as the ancient Italian city where the Volturi live in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series.
Volterra is situated on a hill and the bulk of the old city was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. It is a beautiful town with a lovely cathedral and it even has an outdoor Roman theatre. During the medieval times, this theatre was used as a rubbish dump and in 1950 when the site was excavated, a complex dating from the 1st century BC was uncovered. This archaeological site is one of the attractions in Volterra.
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is one of the most beautiful and charming of the medieval towns. It is famous for its numerous towers that create a unique skyline that can be seen from miles away. It is also known for its zafferano (saffron).
San Gimignano was originally an Etruscan village and it was named after the bishop of Modena, San Gimignano. It is a lovely town with churches, museums, beautiful buildings and streets, restaurants and shops. Needless to say, this town is very popular with tourists.
San Gimignano was originally an Etruscan village and it was named after the bishop of Modena, San Gimignano. It is a lovely town with churches, museums, beautiful buildings and streets, restaurants and shops. Needless to say, this town is very popular with tourists.
Siena
Siena is an art city with many galleries and museums, and it is where the Palio di Seina, a famous horse race takes place twice a year (they were setting up for this event on the morning we visited).
It is thought that Siena was originally an Etruscan city until the 1st century when the Romans established a military colony here. Siena's wealth, size and power began to grow in the 12th century, along with its involvement in trade and commerce. This made it a rival of Florence, a rivalry that continues today. One thing that makes the two cities different is that many of the fine buildings in Siena are in the Sienese-gothic style, whereas Florence has more Renaissance influence.
Siena is much larger than some of the other towns that we visited in Tuscany and has its own set of attractions.
While in Siena we visited Opera della Metropolitana di Siena, one of Italy's greatest gothic churches and also walked to Siena's huge Piazza del Campo. This large sloping piazza has been Siena's civic and social centre since the 12th century (Siena's historic centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site). This piazza is home to the Palazzo Comunale and the Torre del Mangia, which is 335 feet (102 metres) high with 500 plus steps. The Palazzo Comunale was built in the late 13th century as the piazza's centrepiece and it is regarded as one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Italy (it is now home to the Museo Civico). Siena was nice to visit, but because of its size it lacked some of the charm of the smaller towns we visited.
Siena is an art city with many galleries and museums, and it is where the Palio di Seina, a famous horse race takes place twice a year (they were setting up for this event on the morning we visited).
It is thought that Siena was originally an Etruscan city until the 1st century when the Romans established a military colony here. Siena's wealth, size and power began to grow in the 12th century, along with its involvement in trade and commerce. This made it a rival of Florence, a rivalry that continues today. One thing that makes the two cities different is that many of the fine buildings in Siena are in the Sienese-gothic style, whereas Florence has more Renaissance influence.
Siena is much larger than some of the other towns that we visited in Tuscany and has its own set of attractions.
While in Siena we visited Opera della Metropolitana di Siena, one of Italy's greatest gothic churches and also walked to Siena's huge Piazza del Campo. This large sloping piazza has been Siena's civic and social centre since the 12th century (Siena's historic centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site). This piazza is home to the Palazzo Comunale and the Torre del Mangia, which is 335 feet (102 metres) high with 500 plus steps. The Palazzo Comunale was built in the late 13th century as the piazza's centrepiece and it is regarded as one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Italy (it is now home to the Museo Civico). Siena was nice to visit, but because of its size it lacked some of the charm of the smaller towns we visited.
Abbazia di Sant' Antimo
This Romanesque church near Montalcino was built during the 12th century to enlarge the pre-existant monastery. As a result, the actual structure is the result of additions and modifications executed over the centuries. It is a beautiful abbey situated in a valley, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.
The community of Sant' Antimo is made up of regular Canons (a group of priests and brothers dedicated to the liturgical and pastoral services connected to this church). Here the Rule of Augustine sustains and nurtures communal life. Regular daily liturgies are held and if you go at the right time, you can even hear Gregorian Chanting. The Abbey of Sant' Antimo is one of the few places in Italy where one can listen to the Gregorian Chant and learn how to sing it.
The community of Sant' Antimo is made up of regular Canons (a group of priests and brothers dedicated to the liturgical and pastoral services connected to this church). Here the Rule of Augustine sustains and nurtures communal life. Regular daily liturgies are held and if you go at the right time, you can even hear Gregorian Chanting. The Abbey of Sant' Antimo is one of the few places in Italy where one can listen to the Gregorian Chant and learn how to sing it.
Montepulciano
Montepulciano was a late-Etruscan fort and was the first in a series of settlements here. It is a gorgeous town that lies on a narrow ridge of volcanic rock and it was quite a workout walking around the town and up some of the steep streets.
We walked to the Piazza Grande, the town's highest point and home to the 14th century Palazzo Comunale (panoramic terrace where we got a great views of the surrounding area) and the 16th century Duomo. Montepulciano also has some beautiful streets, great restaurants and shops. We had a lovely time exploring this picturesque town.
Montepulciano was a late-Etruscan fort and was the first in a series of settlements here. It is a gorgeous town that lies on a narrow ridge of volcanic rock and it was quite a workout walking around the town and up some of the steep streets.
We walked to the Piazza Grande, the town's highest point and home to the 14th century Palazzo Comunale (panoramic terrace where we got a great views of the surrounding area) and the 16th century Duomo. Montepulciano also has some beautiful streets, great restaurants and shops. We had a lovely time exploring this picturesque town.
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