Itinerary - Relax today or join an optional excursion that heads first to Siena, well known for its medieval brick buildings and fan-shaped square, Piazza del Campo. See the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and the tall 14th-century tower, Torre del Mangia.
No less fascinating is the charming hill town, San Gimignano, with its fairy-tale towers rising from the hill-top village. This is one of the finest sights in all Italy, and a fitting finale to your wonderful holiday.
Siena, a city in central Italy’s Tuscany region, is distinguished by its medieval brick buildings. The fan-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo, is the site of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and Torre del Mangia, a slender 14th-century tower with sweeping views from its distinctive white crown. The city’s 17 historic “contrade” (districts) extend outward from the piazza.
San Gimignano is an Italian hill town in Tuscany, southwest of Florence. Encircled by 13th-century walls, its old town centers on Piazza della Cisterna, a triangular square lined with medieval houses.
It has a skyline of medieval towers, including the stone Torre Grossa. The Duomo di San Gimignano is a 12th-century church with frescoes by Ghirlandaio in its Santa Fina Chapel.
Oh no, I’ve got a cold! I think I’ve finally started to relax and the lurgy has caught me. Oh well at least it’s only one day we’re all feel rough. I sound like Marge Simpsons sisters after 30 fags LOL. Breakfast is early today as we need to leave the hotel by 7:30 to make our way down to Sienna. I may have to have a little nap on the couch as I’ve been awake since 5:30.
Oh no, I’ve got a cold! I think I’ve finally started to relax and the lurgy has caught me. Oh well at least it’s only one day we’re all feel rough. I sound like Marge Simpsons sisters after 30 fags LOL. Breakfast is early today as we need to leave the hotel by 7:30 to make our way down to Sienna. I may have to have a little nap on the couch as I’ve been awake since 5:30.
We drove our way through the chianti valley towards Sienna. The journey was very quiet as most people slept due to the early start. The coach wasn’t full as many people had decided not to go on the optional tour, I am yet to find out if that was a good shout or not. Old folk tale says that it was decided that 2 towns would have a horse riding competition to decide who had what land for vines. One horseman decided that he wouldn’t feed his rooster so it started to make his rooster noise early as that was the alarm clock of choice. This gave him a head start on the other village which is why he gained the most land for growing vines. These wines are recognised by a rooster on the bottle - it might be a load of crap but it’s a good tale.
The cathedral in Siena was very ornate with lots of black and white mosaics on the floor. I felt a bit let down as there were very few pews to sit on and admire the beauty. I’m not sure that it is used for services often so why not use it as a cash cow for the town.
It was so hot and sweaty in the cathedral so what hope was there out on the brilliant sunshine. I pottered a bit and then it was too hot so I went for early lunch of a pint and a sandwich. We were all at the meeting point except Dora who got a bollocking when she turned up late. Daniela was quite rude and blunt (even if it was accurate)when she said the time is the time and you let everyone down. We boarded the coach to san gimignano and a few of us slept as the early morning and the heat is too much. Once we got to our destination we saw the view over the Tuscan countryside and it looked just how you expected, rolling countryside with symmetrical vineyards and the odd building and village dotted about. Yet again the temperature reached 39 degrees which is no good when you have to walk up to the top of the village. Sweat was literally dripping off of me. The square was typical Tuscan and I would have enjoyed myself better if I wasn’t so exhausted from the heat, I’m also getting a cold! They were trying to get me fixed up with the bus driver but I was having none of it.
When we got back to the hotel, I came to my room and packed my bag ready for departure tomorrow. I had a nice refreshing shower to get rid of the sweat rings I had around my entire body. The last group supper was nice and we all got on really well, in the end. We were a good mix of people and we all looked out for each other. I’ve paid my bill reception and then the fabulous five had a final drink at the front of the hotel. We said our goodbyes and thanked each other for being great company.
It’s heaven to be in my air conditioned room and no doubt it will wake me later as I will be cold.
Goodnight, sleep tight x
2025-02-06