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| Siena |
Having booked a car and driver for today Sare was deeply concerned that it would turn out to be Uncle Luigi from the pizzeria around the corner in his clapped out smart car. Well it turned out to be Luciano in his suit and tie driving his 6 seater people mover. Not only that he was a conservative driver (in the Italian sense – still drove with only one hand loosely on the wheel and with a tendency to straddle the line marking out the lanes on the autostrada. Obviously they’re indicative only).
So we headed out of Florence through one of the old medieval gates in the wall with its massive original gates in still in place. Headed down to Siena and spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon there. Surprisingly or not the Duomo there took most of our time. It’s massive. So worked our way through the museum, the observation point (sadly not up the campanile), the crypt, the baptistery, and then finally the Duomo itself. All built out of layers of dark green (almost black) and white marble. Has a bit of liquorice allsorts look about it but you soon forget that inside. September – October this year they have the entire floor uncovered and that has to be the most decorated floor we’ve seen in any church. Patterns and picture in precisely cut and detailed marble inlays. How can this have been done without laser cutting and computer design? Every other aspect of the building also covered in some form of decoration. In both the museo and the library off the duomo there were displays of stunning 13th century manuscripts. In the library you could take picture without flash. Don't think they do then justice with reflections of the glass. Still...
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| Frodo joins the Sienese green team - Contrade Oca |
After that across to Santa Maria della Scala which started out in the 13
th century (or may be earlier as a pilgrims hospice and until recently was a hospital. It’s now being progressively restored and used as an exhibition centre. At present an exhibition about Michelangelo featuring letters and contracts he had written and which were kept by his great-nephew and handed down through the family. Wonder if any of my nephews are going to download this lot to keep for posterity? Then ambled our way around the Piazza del Campo down to the mercato (marketplace for those of you who aren’t multilingual like moi) for lunch.
Then on to San Gimignano. Well known to those of you who have watched Tea with Mussolini ( and yes so far the trains – well train – we have used ran on time). The towers are quite something. 14 of the 72 originals remain. Frodo and I scrambled up the Torre Grossa – 54 metres built in 1311, the women folk having opted to remain below considering the possible (but not completed) purchase of some Tuscan ceramics. Then a good nosey around the town and beyond the city walls. And of course the obligatory daily gelati intake. Apparently the passionfruit was divine. I was pretty happy with my Amaretto!
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| Ju didn't expect to see this sight in Italy |
Then a drive through the Tuscan countryside back to Florence. Grapes. Olives. Hill top towns. And the occasional light industrial area.
Sare’s last evening with us so headed off to her favourite restaurant in Florence. Appears it the favourite of many others as well as it was fully booked. Oh well the one a few doors along did just as well. Gave us a complimentary limoncello each at the end of the meal. The girls decide want all of theirs. Oh well waste not want not.
Last full day in Florence tomorrow………
So we headed out of Florence through one of the old medieval gates in the wall with its massive original gates in still in place. Headed down to Siena and spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon there. Surprisingly or not the Duomo there took most of our time. It’s massive. So worked our way through the museum, the observation point (sadly not up the campanile), the crypt, the baptistery, and then finally the Duomo itself. All built out of layers of dark green (almost black) and white marble. Has a bit of liquorice allsorts look about it but you soon forget that inside. September – October this year they have the entire floor uncovered and that has to be the most decorated floor we’ve seen in any church. Patterns and picture in precisely cut and detailed marble inlays. How can this have been done without laser cutting and computer design? Every other aspect of the building also covered in some form of decoration. In both the museo and the library off the duomo there were displays of stunning 13th century manuscripts. In the library you could take picture without flash. Don't think they do then justice with reflections of the glass. Still...
After that across to Santa Maria della Scala which started out in the 13th century (or may be earlier as a pilgrims hospice and until recently was a hospital. It’s now being progressively restored and used as an exhibition centre. At present an exhibition about Michelangelo featuring letters and contracts he had written and which were kept by his great-nephew and handed down through the family. Wonder if any of my nephews are going to download this lot to keep for posterity? Then ambled our way around the Piazza del Campo down to the mercato (marketplace for those of you who aren’t multilingual like moi) for lunch. 
Then on to San Gimignano. Well known to those of you who have watched Tea with Mussolini ( and yes so far the trains – well train – we have used ran on time). The towers are quite something. 14 of the 72 originals remain. Frodo and I scrambled up the Torre Grossa – 54 metres built in 1311, the women folk having opted to remain below considering the possible (but not completed) purchase of some Tuscan ceramics. Then a good nosey around the town and beyond the city walls. And of course the obligatory daily gelati intake. Apparently the passionfruit was divine. I was pretty happy with my Amaretto!
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