Siena - Heartland of Tuscany

  Our day travelling to Tuscany started with a 5:30 am wake up call on the ship.  after the Livorno and the Cinque Terre experience, we needed an early departure from our ship in order to catch the train to Siena.  Since it was a weekend, the best train to catch was early in the morning. We elected to depart the ship as independant travellers which meant that we could depart at any time.  We also elected to keep our bags with us so we would not waste time in the terminal.  So early off the ship and our first mode of transport was the port bus to the main gate.  From there it was the short walk to the train station and the 7:30 train to Sienna connecting through Grosetto.

Duomo

At The Top of The Dumo

   Trains are a bit of fun, especially trying to go up and down stairs with 2 large suitcases.  Next time on a cruise we intend to take fewer clothes!  In any case we made the connection and were in Siena by about 11 am.  I had checked the Google maps and street views so that we could walk in the right direction.  Unfortunately they have built a new mall since the photos were taken and we had trouble finding the road we needed.  A good decision to take a cab followed.  The B @ B was only about 2 kilometers  away but Siena has hills! After we checked into the hotel we found out that if we had taken the 7 escalators from the train station thorough the mall, they come out a short flat walk from the Porta Pispini which was our destination. When we left Siena it took about 10 minutes to get to the station.
 

Inside

 We checked in and headed to the Piazza Del Campo - the centre of the old town - about a 15 minute walk.  Our first stop was the Duomo - a church that had it been finished would have been the largest in the Christian world.  With are all inclusive pass we were able to see all 6 areas of the church.   We climbed the façade of the unfinished  nave for some great views of the Tuscan countryside.  The crypt, museum, Cathedral were all impressive.
   Since it was now late afternoon and we had been up early we headed for a restaurant called Peppe's that had been recommended by the cleaner at the B & B. It was in the Plaza Del Mercato, directly behind the town hall.  What a wonderful meal.  We found out later that Rick Stevens book recommended it.  The pasta reminded Judy and I of the Italian cooking of my mother.  We asked for a glass

Pasta and Wine

Piazza Del Campo

of wine and they brought the whole bottle and said they only charge  for what is uded.  Well we used the whole thing!  After the late lunch (?) we headed back for a good night's rest.
          The next day (Sunday) we decided to visit the other large church in the old city called San Domenico, a  very austere church begun in1226.   St. Catherine is the patroness of Siena and they have her head preserved on an altar - yes her real head!   And she lived from 1347-80!
 

Parading Colours

  Later we went back to the Campo to the town hall.

From The Top Of The Tower

 Associated with it is the second highest medieval tower ever built in Italy.  400 steps 102 meters - 335 feet later the views of Tuscany were outstanding.  This climb continued our tradition of finding the highest spot where we visit.      More wandering and a stop to people watch at a local bar.  Judy did find a purse that she liked - we negotiated the price - on a back street.  We also encountered the flag throwing display of one of the 17 contrades (districts) that had been parading all day.  Drums beating, people marching in colours, flags waving, etc.  We

Enjoying A Wine

saw them at 9 in the morning and they were still marching at 6 in the evening.  I suspect they did stop for a little wine along the way.
       We returned to Peppe's again and found out that the cleaner from our hotel is the pasta chef at the restaurant on weekends.  No wonder he recommended the place.  Still we would certainly eat there again.
        Early the next morning it was back to the train station - this time using the escalators for our trip to see the relatives in Pordenone with the thoughts that Siena is a great place to spend a few days!