A weekend exploring small Tuscan towns

This past weekend, Britt and I took advantage of our little car and took off to explore the surrounding areas! It was very nice to not to have to deal with bus and train schedules for a change. We just put our destination in the Garmin and go! We left Saturday morning and drove south towards Siena to a church called San Galgano that several of the therapists recommended to us. First, we stopped at a cute roadside trattoria (A trattoria is different from a ristorante in that they have a menu that is more specific to the area and has a less formal feel). We sat by an open window and had a great view of the countryside. The homemade pasta was just delicious!! After we filled our tummies, we went on down the road to San Galgano. It was a beautiful church with gorgeous stonework. It did not have a roof because it got hit by lightning and the roof caved in, which actually made it even cooler. But this is the awesome part, we saw the actual "sword in the stone" just like the Disney movie! Except this sword in a stone was created in 1180 when Galgano Guidotti, a Tuscan nobleman for whom the church was built to honor, plunged a sword into stone (which supposedly "parted like butter") to symbolize his rejection of war. After a vision of Archangel Michael, he renounced a life of "arrogance, lust, and violence" to become a hermit. The sword in the stone is preserved in a chapel which was built around it called Montesiepi. People were even setting up a screen inside the roofless church of San Galgano for a special screening of "The Sword in the Stone" the night we were there! We didn't stay to watch it though. The area the church was in was just beautiful. Vineyards and cyprus-lined roads. So. Gorgeous.

Our next stop along our Tuscan tour was the small walled town of Monteriggoni. It is considered one of the most classical and best known Italian walled towns. Since the Middle Age its fame was so big that the great poet Dante Alighieri makes sign to his 'round enclosure' (Monteriggioni) in the Divine Comedy. The whole town (built in 1213-1219), which isn't very big, sits high on a high and had a wall built around it to protect itself from the Florentines, Siena's historic enemy. We were only here for about an hour, but it was on our way to our final destination of San Gimignano so we had to stop and see it. We had so many amazing views of the Tuscan countryside with vineyards and olive trees and rolling hills. Everything I imagined Tuscany to be like.

We stopped for gas along the way, dreading it because we had no idea how it would be different over here and even what kind of fuel our car takes! But as we pulled up to the pump, a man walked over and started to help us! We had no idea if he worked at the gas station or was just a helpful person (we assumed we looked very desperate, and very American). First he pointed out that the gas tank was on the other side of the car...we turned around and then tried to figure out who he was. We were concerned about putting the right type of gas in the car and got the car manual out to try and figure it out, but of course it was all in Italian. I tried to ask the guy and he kept assuring me it was this one type of fuel, and I asked if he was sure and he smells the gas cap and replies "Si, si"! Well anyone who sniffs the gas cap must know what they are doing! So he fills us up and shows me the cost and I pay him and he pulls out his own wallet to give me change. Gotta love these small town, family-owned businesses.

We finally get to San Gimignano at sunset. This is another small walled town and is famous for its medival architecture. It was founded in the 3rd century BC! It is also known for the dozens of tower houses that jut up into the sky. We walked around the town and stopped at various shops and had gelato in the town piazza. These towns are so gorgeous at night. There is a glow that seems to just hover over the town. From here we drove about 30 minutes to our hostel for the night. Nothing fancy, just a bed to sleep in for the night. A storm came up with crazy wind and lots of thunder and lightning. Our power went out for about an hour. Lovely.

The next day, we headed to Volterra, another walled medieval town, but this town was my favorite. It is known for its alabaster. There were lots of shops with gorgeous alabaster objects and handicraft. Britt and I both bought a clock made from alabaster for only 5 Euros! The extensive history of all of these towns is just amazing. Volterra has an arch called Porta All' Arco that dates back to 2nd century BC. We met a couple from Texas who took our picture for us in front of the arch and then we repayed the favor. We talked to them for a good 20 minutes. He had been a high school football coach for 44 years in Pasadena. They had been in Italy for 3 weeks. He said his grandparents were both from Italy so he and his wife came to check it out. We all had a good laugh at the Italian hand motions while talking. Italians are very animated! So fun to meet people every where we go. They all have facsinating stories! So, back to Volterra: There is also a Roman theater where construction began in the 1st century BC, that is just too crazy to even comprehend! Behind the theater are Roman baths dating back to the 4th century BC. Even saw the first "hot tub" :) And just like every town there was a gorgeous duomo (cathedral) with construction in 1120. Every town, no matter how big or small, has a duomo with amazing detail in the architecture and art inside the cathedral.

And now to get the attention of all you "Twi-hards" out there...the Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn, was filmed here! The part where Bella runs into the square through the fountain in the middle of all those people in red cloaks to reach Edward before he exposes his sparkling Vampire skin was filmed in the Piazza dei Priori! With the big clock tower and everything! There were posters and maps all over the town about it. Even Rick Steves mentions it in his travel book saying that the people are very proud of their part in Hollywood. There was a farmer's market going on in this Piazza and we bought some cheese, crackers, and salami for our drive home. So cool to see these vendors selling typical Tuscan products. Finally, we toured the home of a very wealthy family in Volterra who made their fortune from the alabaster trade. (Part of New Moon was also filmed in the ballroom of this house!) As we left the house to head to our car, it starts to pour...we duck into a neat wine shop (they had dusty bottles on top shelves dating back to the 1960s!) to escape the rain, but when it shows no signs of stopping, we decide to cut our losses and run for the car. We begin our 2 hour drive back home, which eventually turned into a 3 hour drive due to the torrential downpour that was present almost the entire drive. Water was even flooding parts of the street. We said our prayers and hoped that our little Smart car could make it through. Well we made it back! But not for lack of trying...we turn our car in at the end of the week and I will be happy to let the bus drivers do the driving! Britt has been doing an amazing job (I can't drive the rental car because I'm not 25), but the poor thing has to deal with so much stress during these drives! Don't get me wrong, I get stressed too, but she's the one at the wheel. You're doing great, Britt! Growing up in Seattle prepared her for the heavy rain we experienced on Sunday :) But nothing could have prepares her for the crazy Italian drivers...

We are officially over half way through our clinical! Can't believe we have come this far...we have been having so much fun and learning lots, but we are both going to be ready to get home when the time comes!

Ciao!