Siena and San Gimignano

Wednesday, November 7, 2018 we booked a small tour of 11 people to visit the towns of Siena and San Gimignano. We travel through the Tuscan countryside with a variety of weather and light conditions ranging from sunny to showers in a comfortable small bus. Our first stop is the town of Siena with a historic centre that is UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It was first settled in the time of the Etruscans c. 900–400 BC. It is one of Italy's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international tourists especially during the Palio, a horse race held twice a year which packs the town as the horses race in the town center.

Siena

Next we travel to San Gimignano a small walled medieval hill town known for its medieval architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses. The Palazzo Comunale, the Collegiate Church and Church of Sant' Agostino contain frescos dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. The town also is known for saffron, the Golden Ham, and its white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, produced from the ancient variety of Vernaccia grape which is grown on the sandstone hillsides of the area. 

San Gimignano

San Gimignano

Lastly we visit La Marronaia winery and estate.  In 2000, the owner falls in love with an old building in ruins with adjoining land planted with olive trees and vines and Luigi, Silvia and young Corrado and Pietro change the farming to organic and renovated the property to the current winery. This involved all family members, including Dino, a beautiful Bergamasco Sheepdog, who supervised the work. We have a lovely Tuscan lunch with wines from the estate in a wonderful space.  

La Marronaia winery 

"Dino"

After we return to our apartment in Florence we lament that the next day we leave Florence, but it’s off to another adventure.  We have a casual dinner of pizza and wine at a small restaurant near our apartment, a perfect end to a great day.