Our first stop was San Gimignano where we stayed at La Cisterna, right in the middle of town.
After the day trippers left, San Gimignano was a delight to wander around.
"Downtown" San Gimignano. Our hotel, La Cisterna, at the yellow sign to the right of the middle of the photo.
View of Tuscan countryside from our room at La Cisterna.
I fell in love with Italian ceramics in San Gimignano
We drove to Siena, parked our rented car on the outskirts, and walked down into the center of town. This was our first glimpse of the campinile.
It was a lovely day in the Siena campo.
Siena campanile, on one side of the campo.
Siena was quite hilly so we saw several great views as we wandered around the town.
Dining al fresco in Siena
Siena Duomo where a movie was in production so we could not enter.
Close-up of the Duomo's crowning glory.
Our first view of Montalcino
The amazing view from our private terrace at Il Giglio in Montalcino
Montalcino enoteca
From Montalcino we took a day trip to Orvieto in Umbria
Close-up of the craftsmanship on the Orvieto duomo
A lovely ceramic shop facing the Orvieto duomo
A jewel box shop for handcrafted paper products
A stand of cypress along the autostrada between Orvieto and Montalcino
View from San Antimo Abbey
Sant Antimo abbey in the Tuscan countryside
A Tuscan hilltown near Montalcino
Tuscan countryside between Montalcino and Montepulciano
We were in Montalcino for their 450th anniversary celebration.
Flag bearers from all of Siena's contradas marched in the celebratory parade in Montalcinio
Coincidentally the parade was on my 50th birthday!
Montalcino was full of celebrants
Exquisite ceiling in Montalcino's pharmacia
After our Montalcino visit we spent a few days in Florence.
Florence's duomo and campanile
Entrance to Florence's duomo
Reenactment of Savanarola's
Copy of David outside Florence's city hall
We spent an amazing day in Rome with a private guide who whisked us around the city to see highlights
The forum was the center of city life in ancient Rome
Atop Capitoline Hill
Sistine Chapel Last Judgment
Sistine Chapel ceiling
Inside St Peter's
Cool fountain outside St Paul's Basilica
Trevi Fountain was gorgeous (but very crowded)
Beautiful architectural details abounded in Florence
San Lorenzo market
Laurentian Library was an oasis in Florence
I loved the architectural details at the Laurentian Library
Residenza Johlea-our hotel in Florence
Our room was large, had openable windows and very high ceilings
Afternoon drinks atop La Rinascente dept store
Beautiful views from Piazzale Michelangelo our last evening in Florence.
Florence and the Arno on our last evening in Florence
Our route in Italy
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