- Days 11 & 12 -
On our way to Siena, we stopped in the charming city of Lucca. Our visit was just long enough for a walking tour, a bite to eat, and (for some) a bicycle ride on the ramparts. The rest of us enjoyed meandering through the streets of town window shopping and eating gelato.
Siena is situated atop three hills and there is a nice breeze that blows through town. It was rather welcoming as the temperatures were well above the average. After settling into our hotel and a welcome beverage, we walked through town getting oriented. We learned the
town is divided into 17 districts who compete annually in a Paleo. The horse race is three laps around Il Campo and lasts only about 90 seconds. This is a major event that draws over 60,000 people and we missed it by just a couple of days. One morning we visited a studio where they make stained glass. It was interesting to learn the modern day version of creating stained glass as compared to how it used to be done. This is a very tedious art but the finished pieces are exquisite. From there we were joined by a local guide for more history and to visit the Duomo with its unique inlaid marble floors and colorful stained glass window. The Piccolomini Library inside the Duomo is a "must see" - the frescos are so vivid, it is as if they were just painted, however they are original and un-retouched - simply magnificent!
For lunch we enjoyed a picnic lunch and some delicious panforte (a rich fruitcake) a local specialty.
On our way to Siena, we stopped in the charming city of Lucca. Our visit was just long enough for a walking tour, a bite to eat, and (for some) a bicycle ride on the ramparts. The rest of us enjoyed meandering through the streets of town window shopping and eating gelato.
Siena is situated atop three hills and there is a nice breeze that blows through town. It was rather welcoming as the temperatures were well above the average. After settling into our hotel and a welcome beverage, we walked through town getting oriented. We learned the
town is divided into 17 districts who compete annually in a Paleo. The horse race is three laps around Il Campo and lasts only about 90 seconds. This is a major event that draws over 60,000 people and we missed it by just a couple of days. One morning we visited a studio where they make stained glass. It was interesting to learn the modern day version of creating stained glass as compared to how it used to be done. This is a very tedious art but the finished pieces are exquisite. From there we were joined by a local guide for more history and to visit the Duomo with its unique inlaid marble floors and colorful stained glass window. The Piccolomini Library inside the Duomo is a "must see" - the frescos are so vivid, it is as if they were just painted, however they are original and un-retouched - simply magnificent!
For lunch we enjoyed a picnic lunch and some delicious panforte (a rich fruitcake) a local specialty.