tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81704475700645510022024-03-14T12:22:24.318-05:00..Italia..Johnnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16121872442601588136noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170447570064551002.post-75202853415878567432008-01-10T14:53:00.000-06:002008-01-10T15:01:53.605-06:00Siena<span style="font-family: arial;">Here is a few things to do while in Siena. This is from the link you sent in a earlier post:<br /><br /></span><p style="font-family: arial;"><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11"><b>Food and wine</b>:</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Sit on the Piazza del Campo, sip some wine and watch people and the world go by. </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Eat a really late meal on the Piazza del Campo (summer only after all).</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Eat outside somewhere, anywhere. And try wild boar (cinghiale).</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">To sample some of the local wines stop by the Cantina in Piazza located just off the Piazza del Campo (24 Via Casato Di Sotto). </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Eat Chinese food.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Order a meal in Italian at Boccon del Prete on Via San Pietro. They'll help work you through it.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Experience an advanced civilization by picking any bar and watch Italians go about their business while you're sipping your caffe italiano.</span></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;" class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Stop</span><span class="fontverd11"> at Nannini's on Via Banchi di Sopra for a Negroni Sbagliati (nay-<b>grow</b>-nee zbah-lee-<b>ah</b>-tee) aperitivo.<br /><br /></span></span><p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11"><b>Cool stuff</b>:</span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Visit one of the two <a onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'C34514CA40'));return CSClickReturn();" href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/sienatt.html#" csclick="C34514CA40">cemeteries</a> just outside the walls. Trust me on this.</span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Go to the Duomo for mass whether you're Catholic or not.</span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Take the evening stroll (passegiata) along with everyone else on Via Banchi di Sopra and Via di Citta. </span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Stop and say hi to Lisa at the <a onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'C34514CA42'));return CSClickReturn();" href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/sienatt.html#" csclick="C34514CA42">Bookshop</a> in the Galleria on Via San Pietro, and which just happens to be the only English-language bookshop in Siena (and where they occasionally have author's readings as well as children's storyime).</span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Go to the big open air market ("mercato"), held every Wednesday next to the Fortezza.</span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Take one of <a onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'C34514CA44'));return CSClickReturn();" href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/sienatt.html#" csclick="C34514CA44">Roberto Bechi's</a> tours of Siena and the hidden places nearby. We did and learned so much!</span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Study Italian for a couple of weeks at one of the <a href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/lang.html">language schools</a> in the city.</span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">Visit the <a onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'C34514CA46'));return CSClickReturn();" href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/sienatt.html#" csclick="C34514CA46">Villa di Geggiano</a>, just 5 kms from Siena. Dating back to the 13th century this villa, located on a hill overlooking the city, with its superb frescoed <a onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'C34514CA48'));return CSClickReturn();" href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/sienatt.html#" csclick="C34514CA48">halls</a> and <a onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'C34514CA50'));return CSClickReturn();" href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/sienatt.html#" csclick="C34514CA50">rooms</a> and beautiful <a onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'C34514CA52'));return CSClickReturn();" href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/sienatt.html#" csclick="C34514CA52">gardens</a> have belonged to the Bianchi Bandinelli family since the early 16th century. Wine tastings and tours available; ph. 0577 356879.</span></span></p><p><br /><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11"></span></span></p><p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11"><b>Some stuff to do that's nearby</b>:<br /> </span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">For wine stop at the enoteca in Montalcino -- but then drive over to Montepulciano and check out the Poliziano cantina on Piazza Grande in the city's historic center. We used to enjoy Avignonesi's tasting room but they're pretty much into selling "stuff" now so I'd pass in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">And while you're in Montepulciano stop at the handmade coppersmith's shop on 64 Via dell'Opio nel Corso, ph. 0578 758753,<a onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'C34514CA56'));return CSClickReturn();" href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/sienatt.html#" csclick="C34514CA56"> online: www.rameria.com</a>. The shop is run by the smith himself and his wife and the quality of his workmanship is rivalled only by the reasonable cost.</span></span></p><p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">The official <a onclick="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'C34514CA54'));return CSClickReturn();" href="http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/sienatt.html#" csclick="C34514CA54">Siena local government website</a> is your best source for discovering what's happening in and around Siena and they also provide an excellent overview of the historic part of the city in addition to several handy city walks.</span></span></p><p><br /><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11"></span></span></p><p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">This is also the link to the website that has great tours of Siena:</span></span></p><p><span class="font12"><span class="fontverd11">http://www.toursbyroberto.com/</span></span></p><br /><p>look over some of this and let me know what you think baby.<br /></p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span>boolainahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02786543866725400621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170447570064551002.post-15335215929315974112008-01-09T20:52:00.000-06:002008-01-09T21:03:54.494-06:00Day Trip itI was looking at buses to and from Florence. It looks like Lucca is around an hour and a half drive and Siena it's a little under an hour and a half. They also have buses going from Siena to Rome but that is about a three hour drive and close to 20 euro (eeiik!) I will do some more research on both cities and get back to you soon on what I think. Right now it all sounds great. All we are lacking is time. We may have to pare our options down so to fit our schedule but lets do the research and then decide.<br />Would it make sense to spend a night in Sienna on our way to Florence?? It is on the way. Just a thought.<br /><br />Lets throw out Pisa. Another time maybe.boolainahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02786543866725400621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170447570064551002.post-19166310162394827912008-01-09T19:16:00.000-06:002008-01-09T19:21:32.114-06:00Flight Info<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9xzIHUf3Bq9u4bwAqL8oZswcu3c_ytOCLjxKP0zEb5yLKQA017WzGTfsBrKvRJTKK_LyouCnnVkZao3h28HlpyPiF3P7hyphenhyphen_qdqr_E41LUFfLybTGLJGVq4vcJ0afGn8kAQNE6cJQ1J0/s1600-h/Itinerary+Updated_Page_1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9xzIHUf3Bq9u4bwAqL8oZswcu3c_ytOCLjxKP0zEb5yLKQA017WzGTfsBrKvRJTKK_LyouCnnVkZao3h28HlpyPiF3P7hyphenhyphen_qdqr_E41LUFfLybTGLJGVq4vcJ0afGn8kAQNE6cJQ1J0/s320/Itinerary+Updated_Page_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153651832182058130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23vd2ySUYs3PMmIeH4S9-GnuFRt1g7yDP4Jh1m1a-0pfwyKNBMzMAEIk187pr5ZJCBMOXXhbwSxOe3NnMQH2TYsMqklsAEg-uHepIfDMBdmLWvezDqUbPuILTKQyAgw2FQ1ZT0bL9F0M/s1600-h/Itinerary+Updated_Page_2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23vd2ySUYs3PMmIeH4S9-GnuFRt1g7yDP4Jh1m1a-0pfwyKNBMzMAEIk187pr5ZJCBMOXXhbwSxOe3NnMQH2TYsMqklsAEg-uHepIfDMBdmLWvezDqUbPuILTKQyAgw2FQ1ZT0bL9F0M/s320/Itinerary+Updated_Page_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153651836477025442" /></a>Johnnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16121872442601588136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170447570064551002.post-90968701456585562632008-01-09T16:33:00.000-06:002008-01-09T16:58:19.715-06:00Tuscany for Art and Architecture<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sy6WuvsrkT3tG4feKNz8iIIGbI8N20Tg4CNciNGoVSNIdRlL4kEdAsXK5SS-EjAl9ff_Lmu5GUKr92ZToiPpAnBly-JHaets7BORnHkKngUhkXnu9dQ-8Aqr9RlVqrzDbChl0N27Jr4/s1600-h/DSC06933.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sy6WuvsrkT3tG4feKNz8iIIGbI8N20Tg4CNciNGoVSNIdRlL4kEdAsXK5SS-EjAl9ff_Lmu5GUKr92ZToiPpAnBly-JHaets7BORnHkKngUhkXnu9dQ-8Aqr9RlVqrzDbChl0N27Jr4/s320/DSC06933.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153614491736386690" /></a><br /><br /><br />The guide book I got listed several cities outside of Florence (but very near) that might be worth looking into. The list included -- Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Pienza, Montepulciano, Lucignanao, Arezzo, and Sansepolcro. <br /><br />Based on advice from Edwin I remember him saying that we should not worry with going and seeing Pisa --<br /><br />Lucca is described as being a great city for architecture buffs -- and there is one building that i was interested in seeing in the city --- Cattedrale di San Martino (image) -- link to description of building -- <br /><br />http://www.frommers.com/destinations/lucca/A30489.html<br /><br />This town looks pretty great and I'd be interested in checking it out, but more interestingly than this town would be Siena.<br /><br />Siena seems to be second only to Florence for art and architecture to see -- <br /><br />a couple of Museums it recommends are Museo dell'Opera Metropolitina and Museo Civico<br /><br />other attractions to look into -- Piazza del Campo (looks like a great place to wander around and maybe have lunch) <br /><br />I know Florence is going to offer a lot to see but look into Siena and see if there it peaks your interest -- it did mine.<br /><br />good link to info about Siena -- http://www.sienaitaly.com/pages/home.htmlJohnnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16121872442601588136noreply@blogger.com0