Tuscany

Siena

Here is a jewel. When people have asked if they should see both Florence and Sienna, or should they only see one, I think the two cities are nothing similar. While Florence is big and in your face with architecture (and tourists) Sienna has a beauty and feeling that all its own.

Siena

Although first a Etruscan center, it is said that Siena was founded by Senius, the son of Remus who was the brother of Romulus - the person Rome is named for. So you see. Everyone is connected. But nothing much happened in Siena with the Romans because Siena was not on the route to where the Romans traded. It was after the Lombard occupation that a safer road to Rome was established, and that put Siena on the map.

Siena Cathedral - Duomo

Construction of the cathedral dates to the 12th Century. The axis of the cathedral runs north-south, which is unusual. It was planned to be the largest cathedral in the world with a north-south transept and and east-west nave. The transept and the east wall still exist today and do take the climb to the top for fantastic views of Siena. The cathedral ran out of money and the rest of the project was abandoned.

But what was built is impressive. On our 1994 visit we just walked into the Duomo, one of the most stunning you will find in Italy, and walked around admiring the incredible inlaid marble floor. When we returned a few years later we found out how spectacular our first visit had been as the floor is now covered for protection with sections opened for viewing. there are 56 panels on the floor, each depicting a scared scene. Construction of the Duomo started in the 1200's and continued to 1382. A good number of the sculptures on the facade of the Duomo are copies, with the originals inside the Museum. No comparison of this Duomo to that of Florence.

The pulpit was carved in the 1200's and it outright magnificent. There are hundred of heads and faces all with remarkable detail. Regrettably, they do not allow pictures to be taken inside.

Now you buy a ticket to gain admittance to the cathedral, the baptistery and the Opera del Duomo. Ours also included admittance to go to the top of the transept.

The piazza del Campo is the center of the city. The Palazzo Pubblico and the tower of Mangia overlook it. On our 2001 visit when we returned they have come up the the booking of time slots to enter the tower so you buy a ticket for a time slot and that allows you to walk about the city and return at the right time.

Colle Val D'Elsa

This was just a pleasant evening drive for us, but we did find a very good small restaurant, nothing fancy, but offering a great meal. Trattoria Marechario on di'Barretta Marghertia. The restaurant was friendly, incredibly cheep and the food great. There are two parts to tis town, the lower section, called the Piano and the upper section, the Colle Alta. The Colle Alta has more to see in terms of retaining its original look. If you are in the area, and it is a pleasant drive through the vineyards and the hills.

Arezzo

Arezzo turned out to one of the great surprises of our 1995 trip to Tuscany. We have returned to the town since then and always enjoyed our visit to Arezzo. In 1995 we tried to get at hotel in San Gimignano but were unable to get anything. We drove to various towns in the area and had no luck anywhere. Well it started to pour so we thought at this point, lets drive and we ended up in Arezzo. It was 8:00 pm and we decided to take the first hotel we could find. It turned out to be a fairly modern one on the end of town, the Minerva - our room was great and it turned out the Italian heart-throb was staying there as there was to be a bid concert in town. Throngs of fans stood night and day outside the hotel.

We checked into the hotel and headed out for a meal. We were starving after the long drive. We came across the Antica Osteria L'Angania, via Mazzini 10 - Telephone: 25381 (Closed on Mondays) — this was one of the evenings we had the most fun in a long time. the restaurant was jammed. We should found out it was full of entertainers for the concert. The restaurant is mainly long tables and a few tables for four. We ended up eating with some of the Directors for the concert and Tears for Fear were right at the next table. It is a one-price meal and it was fantastic. The wine flowed, and flowed and at one point when I returned from the washroom Karen was dancing in the middle of the restaurant with the chef!

Anyway, the town is impressive, the Duomo is large but very dark inside. The Piazza Grand (you will remember that scene from the movie A Beautiful Life, is very impressive.

We also ate at Il Saraceno, via Mazzini 6/a and it was a good meal

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