Traveling in Tuscany

---

From my “home-base” in Florence, I was able to get out and accomplish two day trips to Pisa and Siena. I was glad to get out of the big city and see a bit of the countryside, even though it was mostly through the train or bus window. The Tuscan countryside has great allure and tends to evoke a feeling of “amore” in many people. I can certainly understand the draw, and as you can see in some of my pictures, there is a very distinct character to the geographical features of the land and the plant-life that grows upon it. I particularly love the trees that spot the landscape, especially the Italian Cypress tree (thanks google!) that almost seems to live in little family groups separated from one another.

My first day trip led me to one of the most recognizable sights of Italy: the leaning tower of Pisa. Although often thought of as one of the strongest symbols of Italy, I definitely had to agree with my lonely planet guidebook, which had the best phrase to describe Pisa: underwhelming. After seeing such impressive sights in other locations, the leaning tower was, for me, interesting in its novelty, but altogether not that exciting. What I enjoyed much more than the tower itself was watching and trying to count how many tourists were doing the “Pisa Pose.” The pose, consists of standing between the camera and the tower and holding your hands up to pretend you are struggling with holding up the heavy building. The best way to show the entertainment in watching this spectacle is to check out this video:

. I do have to admit that I took a picture doing this as well, even if it was unwilling and I was forced to by the photographer.

In contrast to Pisa, Siena felt like a great gem of Tuscany. The town maintains its medieval vibe through the architecture and meandering cobblestone streets. After navigating these narrow streets from the bus stop, my friend Patrick and I emerged out into a bustling square. It is here in the Piazza del Campo, that the city has a famous horse race every year: Il Palio. Beyond this race the square functions as a main hub of the city, and since it was a gorgeous day out it seemed as though everyone had come out to have a bite to eat and enjoy the sun. Luckily, Patrick and I had stopped by the market in Florence and picked up makings for a lunch: fresh rolls with local salami and some incredibly delicious provolone cheese. To this day, and I am sure Patrick agrees, this was the most delicious cheese I have ever had! We joined the masses and sat down on the “burnt Siena” bricks (yes, this is where the crayola crayon color comes from!) and enjoyed a delicious meal while fending off the pigeons, but not until after we climbed the Torre del Mangia (Mangia Tower).

The Mangia Tower is the second highest medieval tower in Italy and has a grand total of 505 steps to the top. That being said, the view from the top was spectacular. The contrast of the medieval town surrounded by the beautiful Tuscan countryside was fantastic and I am sure we went beyond the limited fifteen minutes you are supposed to spend at the top. You can check out a video from the top of the tower here:

.

After lunch, it was on to explore Siena's famous Gothic Duomo. Beyond the beautiful facade, that is very similar to Florence's, the real treasure of this cathedral is found in the many artistic works inside. Although completely understandable, what still blows my mind is stumbling upon works of art by the famous renaissance artists in “everyday” locations. Within the cathedral were statues of St. John the Baptist by Donatello and St. Peter by Michelangelo, not to mention two more statues by Bernini. Even in the baptistry next door there were statues done by Donatello! When viewing these pieces in public places, it is a strong reminder that much of the artwork of the renaissance was commissioned to inspire the people, so it was brought to them. Nowadays, it is usually we the people who need to seek out the work in galleries, while also paying a hefty chunk of change to do so. In addition to artwork, the Duomo also housed a library with a great collection of medieval choir books. At first I thought they were simply passages from scripture, but Patrick was astute and realized that underneath the text was what seemed to be musical notes (and in fact were).

When leaving the city, I told Patrick that Siena would be one of those places that I could definitely stay for an extended period of time; with its medieval atmosphere, gorgeous countryside, and laid-back lifestyle I can easily say that I still hold to that.




Videos:
Pisa – Main Square:

Inside Siena's Duomo:

View from Siena's Duomo Museum Bridge:

---

Photos

Swarming Pigeons
Right after we got up and left our crumbs...

Comments

[anonymous]

David, thank you. I feel as if I have revisited my happy memories as I've been reading your journal and seeing your photos. Soon I'll check out your videos. Do return to Italy and get to know some of the people. They're such fun! Would love to talk with you some time about all your adventures, Jean Robbins