Left Spoleto and headed for San Gimignano where we would stay for our last 2 nights on the tour… stopped off at Cortona, a city with roots back to the Etruscans.

Arrived in Cortona to find ourselves transported back in time with medieval archers– the various neighborhoods were involved in an archery competition… men and women alike!

Visited the fascinating Etruscan Museum in Cortona — the top photo is an intricate Etruscan oil chandelier.

From around Cortona…

And then we were off to the remarkable town of San Gimignano…

San Gimignano from afar…

Today we had to say good by to our terrific bus driver, Tiziano– shown here with Tiziana our tour manager.

San Gimignano main square…

Our hotel on the square and our room with a view…

San Gimignano– What a magical place!

Wonderful dinner for two in San Gimignano…

Day 12– up early to catch the early morning light and walk in the empty streets in San Gimignano… incredible!

Last night’s wine bottles from a restaurant waiting for recycle pick up… 😀😀

Took a trip to tour Siena on our last day in Tuscany…

The main square in Siena

Poster of the Palio race… see below

Our local tour guide took us through the distinct “neighborhoods” of Siena… neighborhoods that form close communities and compete in the annual Palio di Siena horse race around the square. When a neighborhood wins the race they proudly fly flags in their neighborhood! This year’s winner was the “she wolves”. An interesting fact from our guide — who is a “panther” … apparently everything goes, dirty tactics and all, in the race… so if one neighborhood draws a good horse and jockey their fierce competitors can knock the jockey off the horse, etc. — but only the horse has to finish, jockey or not!

Spectacular Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena), dedicated to the Assumption of Mary… with treasures of Pisano, Donatello and Michelangelo

The last photo is one of the mosaics in the floor– uncovered only 6 weeks during the year — we were fortunate to see these beautiful mosaics!

A wall that was started in medieval times in order to enlarge the cathedral, but was abandoned when the plague hit Europe.

Beautiful Siena…

Farewell dinner overlooking the beautiful vista around San Gimignano… saying good by to our traveling companions and new friends…

At the train station in Florence waiting for the Rome train– stayed in Rome one night and then returned home to the upcoming hurricane…

So in thinking about our trip the following words and phrases come to mind: art; history; Michelangelo; amazing landscapes; great wine;  vineyards; olive trees; gelato; transported back in time; great food; new friends; churches and cathedrals; St. Francis; walking, walking, walking; hill towns; exploration and wandering; wonder and awe… oh, how truly blessed and fortunate we are!

Ciao! Until next time… thanks for coming along with us to Italy!