Italy 2025 - Day Eight 9/21/25

This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, we headed to the quaint medieval town of Pistoia. At the foot of the Tuscan mountains and 30 km from Florence, Pistoia is known for its history, art, and charm...and it did not disappoint on all three levels! Lia shared some history about the town and led us on a stroll past Sant'Andrea, a church which features the famous pulpit crafted by Giovanni Pisano. Next up was the Ospedale del Ceppo, a hospital founded in 1277. Once we arrived at the Piazza del Duomo, we were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves smack dab in the middle of the annual Medieval Festival, one of the town's biggest events of the year. We had time to explore Pistoia on our own before heading out of the square and back to our bus, with just enough time to take in the festival parade, the capstone event of their celebratory weekend.

After departing Pistoia, we took a short drive to Fattoria Betti, a breathtaking farmhouse and vineyard spanning 27 acres. Here we were treated to a tour of the vineyard and facility before indulging in a fabulous wine tasting and lunch al fresco. It was truly a day to remember!

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Cordoba

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