As with every morning since we’d arrived in Italy, today was also an early one. Yet this time, we were not heading to the train station, this time it was to meet up and take a group tour. There were two places my husband had his heart set on seeing while in Italy, and I wanted to make that happen. The first was Monterigginoni, and the second was San Gimignano. Neither of these were easily accessible from Florence by public transit and there was no way I was going to rent a car and drive in a foreign country. While doing research for our trip, I scoured over several sites in search for a tour that would suit our needs and make this trip even more special.
After hours of searching, being disappointed with the time allocated at each stop, I finally stumbled upon one that seemed like a perfect fit for us, Ciao Florence Tours. I sent a quick email to the tour operator to make sure the time allowed in each stop would make it worth it and when they replied a few hours later. I was delighted to see that it would be a perfect fit. I just had to figure out the best day for us to go, as we had so many other items on the itinerary.
Once I figured everything out, I booked the reservation. One thing I really liked about this operator is that there was time to cancel if needed. It gave me a sense of reassurance that if something happened and we would be unable to make it that we wouldn’t lose out on the money. In 2020 we were set to go on an England and Scotland adventure of a lifetime. Of course, we all can recall what 2020 ended up being, mass shutdowns, lockdowns, and a total halt on anything related to travel. Needless to say, getting refunds on lodging, airfare, and other pre-booked activities became a hassle. That’s why when I was booking things for this trip, I wanted to be sure I could make changes if needed.
We had to be at our meeting point to check in about 15 minutes prior to departure, so we left extra early in order to stop on the way to grab a bite. After picking up food, we continued our walk past the train station to where the tour buses picked up their groups. It wasn’t a far trek, which we were appreciative of. Once we checked in and got a sticker showing which tour we were part of, we ate our breakfast sandwiches. It wasn’t long before we were instructed to head to the bus and begin boarding.
My husband rushed us up the steps of the double decker bus, wanting to secure the prime space in the front at the top. We did get two of the four seats at the top, which provided for a great view. Once everyone was aboard, the tour guide gave us an overview of what the day held and how things would work. The driver pulled out of the parking lot as we were on our way to the first stop, Monteriggioni.
The drive through Florence and into the Tuscan countryside was enjoyable, and with seats in the very front, the view was amazing. It was nice to sit back and enjoy the view. Many times we’ve traveled and at least one of us ends up driving, so we don’t get to enjoy the surroundings as much. Being on the bus allowed us to enjoy the scenery much more than we would’ve had we ventured out on our own in a rental car. From the main road, our destination appeared, and we grew more excited the closer we got.
The journey to Monteriggioni was only just under an hour. We would have about an hour to explore the small, walled village. Many people recognize this walled village from the Assassin’s Creed video games. It played a role in Assassin’s Creed II and Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood as the home base to the main character, Ezio Auditore. As we have both played the games in this franchise, visiting here was something that we’d hoped to do and finally got the chance to. While the game took many liberties while portraying the village as larger than it really is and featuring the large Auditore Villa, we were not disappointed by the massive walls surrounding the village.
Once off the bus, we had to walk from the parking area to the entrance. The walk wasn’t all that far, but it was up a steep hill. There is only one entrance and exit for vehicles making deliveries, so we had to watch out for cars and vans as we proceeded up. The number of residents living within the confines of the walls is about 50, and those that do run the businesses. We got through the entrance and had it not been for the vehicles and modern signage, we would’ve felt as if we were transported back to the medieval times in which this fortress was built. The vast walls were taller than one could imagine, photos really do not do them justice. While normally the walls would be open to people to go up to the top, at this time restoration and preservation work was being done, so this wasn’t an option.
Walking the village doesn’t take long at all. It is just a few minutes from the entrance to the opposing side, nonetheless, it is worth it to take the time and visit. There were a couple places to eat and several shops where you can purchase souvenirs. We even came across a small hotel that you can stay in. While the village is small, staying there did have an appeal to me, and is something I’d consider in the future.
Time was ticking and we knew we needed to head back to the bus. We stopped at an overlook outside the walls and next to the public restrooms to appreciate the picturesque scenery surrounding us. It was time for us to be on our way. We waved goodbye to the massive walls and boarded the bus to the next destination, hoping that we’d come back and spend more time here one day.
Our next destination was Siena. On the bus the tour guide handed out receivers and headphones to those who opted to take the guided tour of Siena. We had opted not to do this and spend the time on our own exploring. The guide also asked everyone if they wanted to make reservations at the restaurant they normally dine at. We decided to take up the guide on this as we hoped it would provide us with more time to explore and not worry about trying to figure out where to eat.
It wasn’t long before the bus was pulling into an area reserved for tour buses to stop and let their groups disembark. We followed the guide along the massive walls that have been part of Siena dating back 1000 years as our guide led us into the city. At the time of our arrival, there was an outdoor market selling everything from fruit and veg to sneakers and jackets. The area was crowded, but we managed to keep up with our group.
I hadn’t realized how large Siena really is. Most travel shows only focus on one main area, the Piazza del Campo. We walked through the streets and passed by many buildings that looked just as interesting as the massive walls we’d just passed. I noted several stores along the way, especially pointing out the Foot Locker to my husband. It wasn’t until we arrived at the crowded steps leading down into what appears to be a giant bowl that I realized where we were.
Known for the horse races that it holds twice a year, the Piazza del Campo is a true marvel. Walking down the crowded steps and seeing it in person for the first time, it was breathtaking and you could see why it is the heart of Siena. It was here that the tour group broke off into two, those who wanted the guided tour and those that wanted to explore on their own. The guide mentioned the restaurant the reservation was for, but we couldn’t hear him well. Once the tour took off, we decided to walk around a bit and explore the Piazza.
There are plenty of places to eat and stores to shop in as you walk around the piazza. It is hard to imagine a horse race being put on in this area, but they have been doing it for hundreds of years. We couldn’t figure out which of the restaurants we had a reservation at, so we looked at a few menus before settling down at a table. We were given menus and quickly ordered since we knew we had limited time in Siena and didn’t want to spend it all eating lunch. Most of the restaurants in the piazza are what I would consider to be tourist traps, but the service was good as was the food. Once we finished, it was time to explore Siena.
As we walked, Mike’s feet really started to hurt, so we decided it was time to head to Foot Locker and hopefully find some new shoes. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far of a walk back to the shop. The prices of shoes did shock us. Many pairs were over €100. We did eventually find a pair of shoes that were a hundred times better than the boots my husband had brought along and we managed to stay under €100. To this day, he still wears that pair of shoes more than any other, so I may have to order a few more for when they eventually wear out.
Now we could walk around and enjoy Siena without the worry of his feet hurting. We stopped in a few gift shops and purchased trinkets to take back home and enjoy. I purchased postcards to add to my collection. We had thought about heading to the Siena Duomo, but not knowing the area very well, felt it was best to stay close since the meeting point for our group was in the Piazza. We know there is much more to Siena and hope to go back and spend a few days exploring the area as we both really did enjoy the little we were able to take in.
Time passed and it was time for our group to gather for the trek back to our bus. Fortunately, everyone was back on time. The one thing about these tours is they have a schedule to keep and if you’re not back on time you will be left behind. We said our goodbyes to Siena as we walked the streets back to where the bus had dropped us off only a couple hours earlier. We wish we could’ve had more time in Siena, but this tour did allow us to experience Siena and help us with deciding where we would like to spend more time in future travels to Italy.
We boarded the bus and it was time to head to our next destination. While my husband isn’t into wine, I do enjoy it. One of the items on the itinerary was wine and olive oil tasting, which is where we were off to next. As of this day, I’d only enjoyed a spritz or two and hadn’t had any wine, so I was excited to experience the different wines in one sitting. It was only about 30 minutes after our departure from Siena that we were pulling up to where we would enjoy a tasting. At the Poggio ai Laghi we were ushered into the building that was spacious and housed a nice shop where you could purchase wines, olive oils, and balsamic vinegars. The tasting included a small plate of salami, cheese, and bread to pair with what we would be trying. I really enjoyed the wine, but the balsamic vinegars were a true highlight. It made the stuff we had at home seem like water. After the tasting, we looked around, but didn’t purchase anything. It was very tempting, but we knew that we still had a lot of time left in italy and didn’t want to weigh our luggage down too early into our trip.
Once back on the bus, we grew excited for our next stop. This next stop was one of the main reasons I had booked this particular tour. The town of San Gimignano is encircled by 13th century walls which, while impressive on their own, isn’t what makes the town stand out. You may have seen photos of this impressive town on top of a hill and not even known it. What really makes it stand out from other Italian towns is the multiple medieval towers that dot the skyline of the city. This was one thing that was a must see for my husband, so I wanted to make sure we were able to have some time here as it isn’t easily accessible from Florence.
After another bus ride, this one about 45 minutes, we arrived at the carpark at the base of the town. From here, we would have an uphill walk ahead of us. I was too excited to care about the walk. Having caught a glimpse of the towers as the bus made its way to the town, I was ready to head up and get a closer look at these impressive structures. I will say, the walk up the hill isn’t for anyone that might have difficulties as it can be a bit steep. However, having already climbed the Duomo in Florence, I found this to be much easier.
Our guide took us up to the spot where we would all regroup and then left us to explore on our own. We went through the main gate of the wall and started to explore the main street, passing many shops holding everything from ‘the best gelato’ to amazing handcrafted ceramics. There are only 14 towers remaining in the town that once housed dozens. The towers were a symbol of wealth, the taller your tower was, the wealthier you were seen to be. While many of these structures didn’t survive the years, the ones that do remain are incredible. Aside from the towers, the entire town feels like you’re stepping back in time. While shops may sell modern items, the exterior of the buildings truly take you back.
We purchased a few items from shops. One thing we do when we travel is purchase Christmas ornaments for our tree, which now seems more like an adventure tree, but it’s always fun to decorate it and remember where we were when we bought the ornaments as we place them on the tree. In one shop I found an olive wood gnocchi board, which was one of the things I really wanted to take home with us. As we started to walk back towards the main gate, we passed the Museum of Torture. If we’d had more time, I definitely would’ve paid to go in and see all the different things they had. I’ve never come across a museum like that in our travels, so I was intrigued.
The time we had in San Gimignano wasn’t nearly enough, but at least we did get to see the town and explore a little. I could probably spend several days here and still barely scratch the surface of the small town filled with so much history. The views from the group meeting spot were amazing and we spent several minutes taking photos. As people began to gather and our guide took roll to make sure we weren’t missing anyone, it hit me that another day was coming to a close. As much as I wanted to stay, I knew that there were other adventures ahead and we needed to go back to Florence.
Once back on the bus, the day finally started to take its toll. We’d been up since about 6am and it was going to be after 8pm before we made it back to Florence. I spent the bus ride back relaxing and enjoying the views of Tuscany as the sun began to set. It was as beautiful as the photos I’d seen online. The journey back to Florence was quick and soon we were departing the bus with the purchases we’d made throughout the day. The tour was definitely worth it and I would recommend it to any first timer going to Italy and wanting to explore outside of the main cities.
We walked back to our apartment, but stopped to get some food along the way. As with the previous days, we knew tomorrow was going to be another long day with an early start. The rest of the evening was spent reflecting on our day, relaxing, and preparing for the next day.
At the end of the day, we still didn’t have any gelato.
