Siena

Siena

Yesturday, we travelled to Siena.  We took a train back to Bologna, said good-bye to Marci and Keith as they headed to Venice, and switched to a fast train to Florence.  The trip from Bologna to Florence took about 35 minutes and almost all of it was in a tunnel.  We had lunch in a little Florentine Bar.  Our remaining group of ten took every seat in the house and the keeper was pleased.  He ran around taking pictures of us with our own cameras.

Backpacker Roughing It Lunch - Retired Style

We boarded an inter city bus for the final one hour trip up into the mountains to the hilltop ancient city of Siena.  Many of our friends have said it is one of their favourite cities in Tuscany and now I can see why.  It has the beauty and history of Florence but only a fraction of the size.  We are staying at the Hotel Alma Domas, a former seminary located within the walls of the old town.  We are literally in the footings of the Saint Catherine Basilica and have a view of the town’s major cathedral bell tower and dome from our window. 

Off the Bus - Arrived Siena

Down To Hotel

Sam and Cheryl - Thee Doors Down. Everyone had a view.

View From Our Window.

After settling in, we bought some Chianti, cheese, flat bread, olives, plums and figs.  The ten of us settled down to a picnic in our hotel courtyard.  The three bottles disappeared quickly and then it was off in search of dinner.  We are now used to Belvedere dining at 7:30, which makes us part of the early dining crowd in Italy.  Most sidewalk restaurants are fully clear at 7:30 but have long lines at 9:30.  Dinner included more wine and beer with most folks partaking in pizza and salad.  The post dinner walk included a stroll to the Cathedral to see it lit up at night and a meander to the II Campo (old town piazza) for gelato desserts.  The Grand Piazza is really something to see at night.  It isn’t really square at all.  In reality it is more the shape of a slice of pizza with restaurants competing for space along the curved edge, a large fountain in the middle and a huge clock tower at the pointy bit.  At that time of night it was filled with dinners, lovers, and small groups of young and old sitting around listening to music, drinking wine, and smoking.

Cathedral At Night

Gelato.

We wandered the lanes and finished back at our hotel.

Up early for a continental breakfast and off to do the hard tourist work.  We bought all-inclusive Siena Duomo Museum passes.  We saw the Cathedral that includes the greatest number of Renaissance sculptors in one place, the Oratorio that showcases Sienese paintings starting in the 16 century, the Crypt of the Cathedral that is covered in bright coloured frescos, and finally the Panorama dal Facciatone lookout with the most fabulous views of the city and surrounding area.  A warning about the lookout, claustrophobia folks should be aware it is a one-person winding staircase to get there.  It is a long dizzy climb but the view is worth it.

Top Of the World in Tuscany.

Wash Day in Siena.

No Escaping The Hills.

An ally bar for calzone and beer for lunch, back to the hotel for a nap, and reconvened for pre dinner drinks at 6. 

Up early for breakfast tomorrow and a deli trip to buy lunch stuff.  Bus to trail starting point at 9:30 am. 

Let the hiking begin.

Don’t know if there will be Internet.