June 29, 2012

Florence Day Trip 1

After spending one day in the hot city, we decided to take a day trip out to the countryside. (Also, we got to see pretty much all the major sites of Florence in a day -if you're planning a trip). We took a group tour (which I generally don't love) to San Gimignano, Siena and had a wine tasting in the Chianti region.

Some fun facts.

  • San Gimignano is a UNESCO site and like Venice looked very fake (but cute). 
  • Siena is a small little town in Tuscany and the site of the crazy horse race. You can see a bit of the madness here.  It was also featured in the opening sequence of James Bond- Quantum of Solace. The area is so small you can't imagine a gajillion people crammed in there in July. Imagine the sweat! It's vicious too. There are no rules and the horse that crosses the finish line (with or without a jockey) wins. It's a battle between the different districts (like Hunger Games?) in Siena.  
  • Chianti region wine is labeled with a Red Rooster. Also did you know Balsamic vinegar is made from grapes and vinegar? I did not until we went to this vineyard that also made balsamic vinegar. 
In San Gimignano 

In San Gimignano 

View of the Tuscan countryside 

Pretty windows in Siena 

Where the horse race takes place 

Standing on the horse racing "track"

Cheesy pics! 


Trying oh so hard to be artsy. 

Red Rooster Vineyard 

Wine Tasting 

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