Heading for the Hills

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We make an early start as we are driving a lot today. Our next Airbnb is a large rural farmhouse a few miles out of Acquapendente - a medieval town which borders the regions of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. We have ten full days here and we plan to mix them up some. Seven days of chillaxing by the pool interspersed with 3 very hectic days touring some of the great hilltop towns these regions are known for.

Our drive to Acquapendente today will have us detouring through the towns of San Gimignano, Siena, and a new town for me, Montalcino (which produces great red wine, and is why I added it to the list)!


San Gimignano - known for its 14 towers (7 of them tall enough to be seen from the valley below)


Sam Gimignano is a world heritage site - and is only this free of tourists if you get there before 9am!

With stunning views over the valley below

Following breakfast in San Gimignano, it's time to head off to Siena. After parking the car, we are treated to a ride on six consecutive escalators (no climbing necessary here!) that take us up to the top where we emerge into the Piazzo del Duomo.


The Cathedral, completed in 1370, is an impressive building in an immaculate state of preservation.


Inside the stunning central aisle of the Cathedral


Brenda checking her phone while we wait for lunch to arrive at a restaurant in the Piazza del Campo

For lunch, Brenda had pizza Napoletana (with anchovies and capers). She does like salty! As for me, I had an asparagus risotto with a very unusual center.... please feel free to guess what it is. There is a prize for the first correct answer received before we announce the answer on the day we leave Acquapendente (Friday 15th September). Either post a comment here or email us!

BTW - the risotto (and it's mysterious center) was amazingly good!


Our next stop was the hilltop town of Montalcino. 

 
Montalcino is a liitle gem, little known and pleasantly uncrowded.

Narrow streets and little stores - some selling the red wine that Montalcino is known for.

And finally, after an exhausting day, including 12,400 steps according to Brenda's Fitbit (so only about 9,000 for me!) - we arrive at "Cerqueto" our Airbnb near Acquapendente.

Like most old villas - built from stone with oak beams supporting stone ceilings

However, there are some modern attractions - which I am sure will get used plenty in the next ten days!

The next couple of days we will be resting up here. Then we plan to do a day trip to the hilltop towns of Perugia, Cortona and Montepulciano, Will post a blog update when we get back from those places.

























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