Friday, May 30 (San Gimignano & Siena) – I received a lot of recommendations to go to San Gimignano and Siena (towns in Tuscany) as day trips from Florence, so when I found a day tour that went to both places, I signed up. I’m not the biggest fan of guided tours, but thought this was the best way to do it in order to have proper transportation and the right balance of information and free time.
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a medieval village in Tuscany that is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stepping foot inside the city walls makes you feel like you traveled back in time to the year 929 when the first record of San Gimignano was documented. Somehow the town got the nickname “Manhattan of Italy” because of its multiple towers, but I think that is more than an exaggeration!
Every shop and restaurant that lines the streets is geared towards foreigners, but I was assured that real people do live there! Unfortunately I didn’t have much free time to get very far into the town, past this tourist-ridden area, but I definitely still got a taste of the neighborhood and these are my highlights:
Every shop and restaurant that lines the streets is geared towards foreigners, but I was assured that real people do live there! Unfortunately I didn’t have much free time to get very far into the town, past this tourist-ridden area, but I definitely still got a taste of the neighborhood and these are my highlights:
World champion gelato at Gelateria Dondoli | 
Watching local men watching the tourists as their daily entertainment | 
Public bathrooms built out of caves | 
Trying the local Vernaccia di San Gimignano white wine |
Siena
I really liked Siena. It is another medieval Tuscan city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Siena is known for the Palio horse race, which happens twice a year in July and August. This race takes place in the main square (Il Campo) where the ancient cobblestone is covered with a dirt track for the horses. 17 riders compete – representing the 17 districts of Siena – by galloping their horses around the track three times, BAREBACK! There are tight turns and no rules, so many races end up with men on the ground (and unfortunately some broken legs on the horses) but the tradition of the race has evolved over the years with better approaches for safety.
The town is also filled with shops, particularly art galleries and clothing boutiques, which is a nice change from the leather shop after leather shop in Florence. Siena is known for certain types of pastries, which I enjoyed trying even though most of them were way too sweet for me!
The town is also filled with shops, particularly art galleries and clothing boutiques, which is a nice change from the leather shop after leather shop in Florence. Siena is known for certain types of pastries, which I enjoyed trying even though most of them were way too sweet for me!
Faces of the Italian greats in science, art, architecture, literature, and more, looking down on us | 
Il Campo square where the Palio horse race takes place | 
Coats of arms representing the 17 districts of Siena | 
A Sienese specialty: pecorino cheese (also try panaforte and contucci pastries!) |
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