Italy 2013: Tour of Tuscany

Saturday we awoke bright & early to get into Florence by 8am. We had an all day tour of Tuscany which included three gorgeous cities: Siena, San Gimignano, & Pisa. The weather was not too cooperative, but we managed to lift our spirits with lots of cappuccino, vino, & chocolate croissants. 

We started out in Siena where they host a version of the Kentucky Derby circa 1930's. Apparently it is mayhem there in July & August. Our guide kept explaining that she knows it is crazy for people to get so excited about a horse race...I didn't think it was crazy at all ;) We also enjoyed solace in the Duomo while it poured rain for basically the entire time we were walking the city. Beautiful inside from the ornate flooring to the crafted doors. The beauty of the churches in Italy amaze me.

Next up we visited a local farm just a few steps from San Gimignano. We had a brief tour of the property before sitting down to an organic lunch with new friends. The vino was flowing to keep everyone warm and conversation was sweet amongst our fellow travelers. 

After lunch we headed into the medieval-walled down where hail made for an exciting adventure as well as an excuse to shop! The entire town is surrounded by walls, much like the country San Marino on the eastern coast of Italy. They also have a gelateria which serves the best gelato in the world. Just ask Ryan.

Lastly we ventured to Pisa...you know the city with the leaning tower. There are three main attractions at the tourist square: the tour, the duomo, & the baptisery. We opted for a few snapshots of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (it really does lean) and to hear a demonstration at the Baptisery. It was incredibly neat to hear a whisper turn into a musical song. 

Despite the weather, we had a great time seeing beautiful cities with such bright character & rich history. If you are ever in Tuscany, be sure to check out these little gems along the way!