We have truly enjoyed STELLAR weather through the first eight days of the trip. Today's forecast was looking a little bleak to say the least, so we dug out our umbrellas, ponchos and raincoats and set off on the 90 minute journey from our hotel to San Gimignano. Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to find comfortable temperatures and scarcely a rain drop in sight! San Gimignano is one of Italy's best preserved medieval villages known for its impressive skyline of 14 medieval towers. The town's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The well preserved Romanesque and Gothic architecture, including churches, palaces, and the central Piazza della Cisterna were a sight to behold. Nestled close to the Piazza is Gelateria Dondoli, a world champion gelato shop that features creative award-winning flavors such as Crema di Santa Fina (saffron and pine nut). We spent a few hour exploring the sites and wonderful shopping in the town before boarding the bus for the...
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 span...