Tuscany
After a brief stop at Pompeii and a night in Naples, we drove up to Tuscany. Spending two nights about 30 minutes north of Siena, we took in the beauty of the Tuscan countryside.
To start off our time in Tuscany, we spent a few hours in Siena, a hilltop town. Known for its iconic black and white striped Cathedral, Its a wonderful place to wander around.
Every side street has a different, beautiful view. Narrow and meandering, they feel more like walkways than places meant for traffic. The warm, earthen tones of the buildings bring the surrounding countryside up out of the ground around you, punctuated by the contrasting shutters.
The quintessential locales - the Piazza del Campo and Duomo di Siena - are the focus of the tourists. Everything seems to focus on these two piazzas, people flooding in from each direction while the buildings around them frame the landmarks perfectly.
We had the good fortune of visiting the Duomo during one of the two times of year where the floors are uncovered. The graffito mosaics are among the most treasured works in the complex.
The Piccolomini Library is a stunning room. With is gilded frescoes and manuscripts, its an overwhelming fest for the senses.
After we left Siena, we headed to the first of many Wineries we would visit - Castello di Ama. The hilltop town that gave the winery its name has been transformed into an incredible wine production facility and home to numerous modern art installations. Artists like Anish Kapoor, Hiroshi Sugimoto, and Daniel Buren are among the icons with pieces nestled among the buildings that have been converted for use in the winery.
Driving the narrow, winding roads amongst the Tuscan Hills is not for the feint of heart. Oncoming busses, trucks and the occasional single lane bridges keep you on your toes. As we made our way to another winery, we found ourselves climbing further and further up in elevation.
Badia a Coltibuono was our favorite of the wines we had in Tuscany. Started in 1051, the castle was originally home to a monastery. Its journey to becoming a winery and hotel includes the impacts of Napoleon and Nazi Germany. The cellars and gardens were highlights of the tour. Second, of course, to the wine.
As we explored the hills of Chianti, we stopped in Radda in Chianti was beautiful village we passed through time and again. The views of the surrounding countryside were incredible.
We finished our tour of the Tuscan countryside with a sunset tour of Castello Brolio. Perched on a hilltop, this castle was a pawn between Florence and Siena and is the historic home of the Ricasoli family, who’s patriarch Bettino was the second Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy and Mayor of Florence. The castle is the home of the oldest winery in Chianti.
The sunset tour was amazing. The views from the castle are stunning, even seeing the iconic towers of Siena on the distant hilltop. We can’t wait to come back and spend more time in Tuscany.