A visit to Siena

Over the week we have visited very different hill towns. Today we went to Siena, about an hours drive from Cortona. The two main sites are Il Campo and the Duomo.
We parked below and took 5 escalators to the hill above. From there we walked to Il Campo, the heart of Siena and location of the famous Palio horse race. Originally a field it is now a huge brick amphitheater. The race is around it.



Palazzo Pubblico (City Hall) with it's 330 ft tower.





Al + Sally reading about the Fountain of Joy located across from Palazzo Publico.














This gelatoria just opened when we passed by. Later we stopped to try some.


The Duomo is HUGE! This is part of the back where the Baptistry is located.



From there we climbed many stairs to reach the front.
Construction began on the late 13th century and continued for several hundred years. Inside are many frescoes, sculptures, and paintings. The floor is all different inlaid pavement panels which by them self were amazing.






Interior





Fresco and curling on Piccolomini Library.






There was so much to see and absorb that it was impossible to take it all in. Despite the fact that it is built with alternating horizontal stripes like the Duomo in Orvieto it is very different in it's facade and interior.

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A visit to Orvieto

This is the 3rd hill town that we visited, once again with lovely weather and spectacular views.
Like in Assisi David drove us to the top of the hill, took a short bus ride to the Duomo and walked around the town.


Construction on the Duomo was begun in 1290. The sides are built with alternating stripes and constructed of 2 types of marble.




The facade is extraordinary with carved relief panels recounting the life of Christ. The inside is even more spectacular....no pictures permitted but Al did manage one!!!













This was one of the most lovely cathedrals we have seen.
We strolled around the town which is not to have changed much in the last 500 years.



























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A visit to Montepulciano

One day we hired a driver and a guide and drove to the town of Montepulciano, the highest and biggest of the hill towns. We went to see the medieval town and sample Vino Nobile.
Our driver Francesco had a very comfortable 5 passenger Mercedes van.


Visit to a small family winery,Tana Gatta.


Janet our guide, a native Australian who has lived in Tuscany for 26 years and knows a lot about local wine.





Views from the winery












Next we went inside the ancient town walls and visited visited the town square, Piazza Grande. This is where we saw
Pallazo Communale.


Inside the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta we saw the 15th century painting of Madonna and child by di Pietro.


After visiting another winery situated in an Etruscan cave deep under the town we had a delightful lunch of antipasti and pasta Bolognese.












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A visit to Assisi

We drove about an hour east to the city of Assisi where St. Francis lived and had his ministry. The old town is on a hilltop with beautiful views of the valley. This was our first view.


And this is looking back south over the valley we drove thru to get there.


The walled town dates to BC and the old wall and forum can still be seen. This is the ancient Temple of Minerva from 100BC. The clock tower on the left was from about 12th century.


We began high atop the town and walked to the bottom. Along the way we saw many sites related to St Francis and his patron St. Clare. And we found a pastry shop where we stopped and had to stop and sample.





Here are a few scenes of Assisi.








Cathedral of St Clare


Kneeling before this cross now hanging in the Cathedral of St Claire, St Francis received his calling to give up his comfortable life and serve all the less fortunate ... people and animals.


Church of St Stefano, an ancient rural church outside the town walls.



Cars and people must share the narrow roads


Upper Basilica of San Francisco. Along the upper side walls are spectacular frescoes telling the story of St Francis.


Under the lower Basilica is the tomb of St Francis.



In 4 days the pope is coming to Assisi and preparation is being made outside the Lower Basilica.


Very weary we waited for a bus to take us back to the top and our car.


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