:: SIENA/TUSCANY ::
I’m back with more Italy info (finally!!!)
After leaving Venice, we headed to Tuscany with out first stop in Siena.
we took the train to Florence, and switched to a Train to Siena.
I had a sandwich at the Florence train station that was so good I didn’t understand how something that delicious could come from a place like that.
We spent two nights in Siena, with one day spent on a vineyard tour of Tuscany in the Chianti region.
Siena was a great small city that could easily be done in one day/night, but since we were doing the wine tour I am glad we stayed for two.
:: WHERE WE STAYED ::
:: WHERE WE STAYED ::
Our friends had gone to Italy the year before and had recommended the Hotel Athena because of its gorgeous views.
It is located on the outskirt of the center of the city (but Siena is so small that by “outskirt” I mean it was a 5 minute walk if that to Il Campo (center square) and even less of a walk to the Duomo so still in the heart of it all).
The views from the hotel were simply gorgeous. Stunningly beautiful and so quiet and peaceful.
These are the views from their restaurant/bar rooftop area.
I loved walking around and strolling Siena.
Cars cannot drive in many parts of the city, and so you basically stroll little walkways up and down little hills. It was so quaint and picturesque.
The first day we climbed the City Tower in Il Campo after checking in and dropping off our things.
Then we wandered around, and to reward ourselves for our hike up a million stairs, we had cocktails outside the Duomo.
Then, why stop there, cocktails on our rooftop bar with the gorgeous views.
We saw a sign for a restaurant Va Vine not far from our hotel that said “come inside and see our views” so we ate on their back patio which was gorgeous and then when it got dark and the views disappeared was romantic with twinkle lights and candles. This was one of the few places the whole trip where the waiters did not speak english, but it was easy enough to order and the food was spectacular.
We had fried zucchini and calamari, pasta dishes, wonderful steak, and ended with tiramisu that was to die for.
The next day we went to The Duomo right when it opened, and if you pay 2 Euro you can walk straight up to counter and get a skip-the-line pass. We walked straight in, and we were the first handful of people to go in that day so it was nice and quiet.
This was one of my favorite places that we saw in all of Italy.
It rivals the Duomo in Florence with its beauty : STRIPES.
This was one of my favorite places that we saw in all of Italy.
It rivals the Duomo in Florence with its beauty : STRIPES.
We strolled Il Campo and grabbed a bite on the square before heading back to the hotel for our Chianti and Castles Tour.
For the vineyard and castle tour, it was a group of 6 of us and we went to 2 vineyards and 2 castles.
I do not drink red wine….. ummm ever. Like, never. But it was still fun 🙂
There were older ladies that didnt drink red either and they would drink the tiniest sip and pour the rest in the bucket and I was like ARE YOU CRAZY? DRINK IT! YOU JUST SAW IT IN A BARREL! YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE GRAPES!
I mean….. sometimes I worry about people.
So for those of you that love Chianti, FUN FACT: it is only a real Chianti if is has the *black rooster* on the label, otherwise it is an IMPOSTER.
The second winery had a smokin’ hot George Clooney type Italian man leading the tasting and I really wanted to make Kip get a picture of him, but instead I silently stared at him while I pretended to just LOVE the different types of Chianti (every time the cheapest one tasted the best to me) and ate the 25 aged balsamic with cheese.
The balsamic. was. the. best. thing. ever.
I do not drink red wine….. ummm ever. Like, never. But it was still fun 🙂
There were older ladies that didnt drink red either and they would drink the tiniest sip and pour the rest in the bucket and I was like ARE YOU CRAZY? DRINK IT! YOU JUST SAW IT IN A BARREL! YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE GRAPES!
I mean….. sometimes I worry about people.
So for those of you that love Chianti, FUN FACT: it is only a real Chianti if is has the *black rooster* on the label, otherwise it is an IMPOSTER.
The second winery had a smokin’ hot George Clooney type Italian man leading the tasting and I really wanted to make Kip get a picture of him, but instead I silently stared at him while I pretended to just LOVE the different types of Chianti (every time the cheapest one tasted the best to me) and ate the 25 aged balsamic with cheese.
The balsamic. was. the. best. thing. ever.
Later that night we walked to a random little pizza place to eat and there happened to be a big race (about a half of a marathon) going on so we sat outside and ate as runners came and went. There was a big cookout with tables set up too, but we couldn’t figure out how or if we were allowed to join in 🙂 All of the “roads” are stone and on hills – I seriously have NO idea how they were doing it. We had cocktails and saw the final racers making their way down to the finish and it was fun to see the locals and the children cheering everyone on as they ate their ice cream. It was very much an italian moment that we were so lucky to stumble upon.
Let the pictures begin !
Right after dropping of our bags, we climbed the tower to get views of all of Siena and the Tuscan hillside
so sweaty.
The unreal views from our hotel. This was more beautiful than any views from towers!
Day two, we went to the Duomo.
It was so gorgeous. The stripes took my breath away!
The back part of the Duomo that we walked past constantly on our walk to-and-from the hotel to the Campo had these gorgeous, gigantic doors that I loved.
First stop on the tour, one of the castles in the distance
At our first winery
see the black rooster!?
the second winery (with Italian George and the killer balsamic) had the most beautiful views!
Even if only for one day and night, I definitely recommend making a stop in Siena. It was such a wonderfully quaint Midieval town and different from anywhere else we went in Italy.
Day One :
Climbed the Tower
Lots of strolling, shopping, up and down the little roads
Day Two :
Lots of strolling, shopping, up and down the little roads
Day Two :
The Duomo
Chianti and Castles Tour : Two Vineyards and Two Castles
Logistics:
Everything here was so simple and easy to manage.
You will need to take a cab from the train station. There is a little cab light straight out from the station but be prepared to wait for a cab, they come slowly one at a time. It was a cheap ride, less than 10 Euro.
Food Recommendations
from friends that we never made it to:
You will need to take a cab from the train station. There is a little cab light straight out from the station but be prepared to wait for a cab, they come slowly one at a time. It was a cheap ride, less than 10 Euro.
Food Recommendations
from friends that we never made it to:
*
Osteria Baccon Del Prete or Osteria Cice
Osteria Baccon Del Prete or Osteria Cice
reservation required for both – have the concierge call
*La Taverna di San Diuseppe
Our favorite meal of our entire trip
(and there were a LOT of meals!) was at La Taverna di San Giuseppe in Siena.
There was a savory chocolate pasta dish that I’m still thinking about 4 years
later. It’s in a beautiful cave like setting too.
(and there were a LOT of meals!) was at La Taverna di San Giuseppe in Siena.
There was a savory chocolate pasta dish that I’m still thinking about 4 years
later. It’s in a beautiful cave like setting too.
And incase you missed previous Italy Posts:
I had the best weinerschnitzel sandwich in a train station in Innsbruck, so I know what you mean!
why can't america be like that!? 🙂
http://furbishstudio.com/collections/gifts/products/cheers-bitches-coaster-set
Thought you would love those…above link!
LOVE THEM! haha thank you!
My husband and I are heading to Italy in late September, and your blog post convinced me to book a place in Siena for 2 nights – we are so excited! We would love to do the Chianti and Castles tour – I've googled several but they all seem to leave form Florence instead of Siena. Do you remember the name of yours, or how you booked it?
Perfect time of year to go! We were there Sept 4-19th or something like that!! So ours was booked through our hotel and I'm sure that your hotel has something the exact one or one that is basically the same thing! Just e-mail your hotel/concierge and ask them! Ours was either 60 or 80 per person and lasted a few hours….. we had enough time in the morning to sight see and then it was the whole afternoon but back in time for dinner (maybe it was 5 hours? it was 2 castles and 2 vineyards…. the vineyards were definitely the best part!) Hope this helps!!!