Siena, Tuscany walking tour on east side
We’re going to take you on an extensive walk in little lanes in the residential neighborhoods on the east side of town strolling along via di Pantaneto which is the eastern extension that main lane, via Banchi di Sotto, which later changes names again to Via Roma. In this neighborhood you'll find the Siena University, one of the first in Europe when it was established in the year 1240. And naturally you'll find quite a few young people here and inexpensive restaurants, and a very casual kind of atmosphere. Even though Siena is a historical town, almost an outdoor museum, it's very much a residential community as it has been for about 1000 years. The dog has a right to walk freely because, well, he's at a street called Dog and Cat. The little alleys are called vicolo, and they are charming and quiet and peaceful places to live. It's really quite amazing how the Italians figured this out hundreds of years ago, in fact the way the cities developed in the Middle Ages often made more sense than the way we develop today, with our massive traffic congestions and remote suburban sprawl. Here you've got a compact town with lots of people living together in pretty high density, and yet you have quiet little lanes like this that would be a wonderful place to live. And then around the corner in easy walking distance you've got your shops, your piazza, you've got the church, you've got schools nearby – everything you need is in easy walking distance. Take advantage of this excellent historic preservation because it presents a golden opportunity for some extensive walking in the many little back alleys. Casual strolls could easily keep you busy for several hours. There is so much more to see in this town beyond the major sites. Exploring off the beaten track, away from the tourist centers and shopping streets, can be a very rewarding experience for the intrepid traveler. And to help navigate through these winding pedestrian lanes – you might get a little lost but there are usually street names up on the buildings, and get a good map. It’s a small town, so you can’t get too lost. And if you should get disoriented while you’re out walking, that’s a great excuse to stop a local and ask them for some directions. You might even get into a friendly conversation. A view of the Church of San Giorgio. We are down at the Piazza del Mercato, the ancient market square which still today has outdoor produce market several times a week. Otherwise it's kind of a parking lot surrounded by very old pastel colored residential buildings. This Mercato is a lovely nook of the city, just two blocks south of the Campo, the main busy square, and yet 95% of the visitors never get here. On the map you'll see the approximate route. We have just been walking along that main lane, via di Pantaneto, via Roma. And now we're going to continue walking on other nearby lanes, especially Giglio and Rossi, and various alleys that will lead us there and take us around. For those travelers who love to get away from the shops and stroll through quiet residential alleys, Siena offers many more possibilities. These little byways are your gateway to enter the authentic side of Siena. You can get free information from the official tourist office while you're there and they have brochures that will help you find your way. They outline various walks that you can take on your own, and also available as downloads from their website. The name of that official tourist office website is enjoysiena.it and it's got different itineraries suggested for you – if you have three days they've got an outline, or two days, or three hours, or one day. But something you don't find even on their website or in the tourist guide books are these simple little residential neighborhoods and yet this can be a most rewarding part of your visit. The church of San Francisco was first built from the year 1228 and expanded from the original Romanesque into the larger Gothic style we see now in the 14th and 15th centuries. The vast interior could handle large crowds of the faithful. We are finishing up our tour of Siena with a stroll along another wonderful lane, via dei Rossi, which leads back to the main street, via Banchi di Sopra, and from there you can find your own way home. A typical but unusual for you site that you'll run into is somebody twirling a flag around. They are practicing because this is one of the great traditions of Siena. They'll put on a performance at various festivals and parades in full costume. We are going to leave you with images of these young lads practicing their rituals that have been handed down for 1000 years in Siena – a wonderful look into the future with the young generation carrying on traditions that are been hammered out over countless centuries.
ITALY Travel- Tuscany & Siena
Explore more of the chianti wine region with me in Tuscany (Toscana) Italy. Learn about the making of chianti classico and catch a snippet of our vineyard and wine cellars tour at the Castello Vicchiomaggio. Then, enjoy a drive with us through the Tuscan countryside to check out the second largest town in Tuscany- Siena- and its breathtaking Duomo di Siena.
SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube channel & watch all my TRAVEL videos from Europe, Asia, The Middle East, & the USA!
❤️ Follow On Instagram @AMaeTV
❤️ Follow On Twitter @AMaeTV
❤️ Check out my BLOG ~ AMae.TV
TRAVEL VIDEOS:
Florida- South Florida’s Anna Maria Island & Siesta Key
Singapore- River Boat Ride & Maria Bay Sands Light Show
Singapore- Markets in China Town
Indonesia- Jakarta
Indonesia- Bali
Arabian Desert Safari with Camels and Belly Dancing
Dubai- Shopping in Dubai’s Gold Souk
Dubai- Tour of Dubai
Las Vegas- Life is Beautiful Festival
Paris- The Eiffel Tower
Paris- The Gravesite of Jim Morrison
Italy- The Island of Capri
Italy- Tuscany and Siena
Italy- Tuscany and San Gimignano
Italy- Florence
Enjoy! ☀️
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-
Watch: Top 10 Things To Do In Dublin
➨
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-
Italy/Siena Duomo Part 68/84
Welcome to my travelchannel.On my channel you can find almost 1000 films of more than 70 countries.
See the playlist on my youtube channel.Enjoy!
The Duomo in Siena lies in a piazza above the Piazza del Campo, a great Gothic building filled with treasures by Pisano, Donatello and Michelangelo as well as frescoes by Pinturicchio.
The exterior of the cathedral is pretty impressive, and if you don't have a lot of time in Siena, you might not even go inside and just enjoy the outside. Built between 1215 and 1263 on the site of an earlier structure, the cathedral is in the form of a Latin cross with a slight projecting dome and bell tower. The exterior and interiors are decorated in white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes, black and white being the symbolic colors of Siena.If you have time to visit the cathedral, you might be tempted to skip it once you realize you have to pay to get in... but it is certainly worth it and, with the pass, it's actually a great value! The pass gets you into the cathedral as well as the baptistery, crypt and Opera museum and is valid for 3 days so it most definitely worth the 10 euros!
The Cathedral's Treasures
If you're visiting Siena after having visited Florence and its cathedral, you're in for a shock! While Florence's cathedral is immense and its cupola impressive, its interior is pretty spartan in comparison. In Siena, on the other hand, you don't know where to look. The columns continue the white/black marble striped motif and, if you look up, there are busts of past religious men of Siena looking down upon you. I recommend you take a special look at the pavement: the most impressive and beautiful of the treasures the cathedral holds are on the floor, where the pavement is decorated with the art of mosaics (using various techniques) to create storytelling masterpieces.
The 56 etched and inlaid marble panels were designed by 40 of leading artists between 1369 and 1547, all from Siena except for Bernardino di Betto, known as Pinturicchio who was Umbrian. Completion of the designs took six centuries, the last ones finished in the 1800s. Today, the mosaic panels in the nave and aisles are usually uncovered although protected from passing feet by barriers, but the most precious ones are under the apse and in the transepts and these are generally protected by special flooring since this is where people sit for mass; these are only uncovered in honor of the Palio and a pair of months during the year, often in September and October. In the Duomo's center, the only floor panel that is usually visible is in the left transept which is Matteo di Giovanni's fantastic 1481 Massacre of the Innocents (a theme with which the painter was obsessed, leaving us disturbing paintings of it in Siena in both the Palazzo Pubblico and in Santa Maria dei Servi).
The oldest designs are those in the center near the entrance - the Wheel of Fortune and the Sienese Wolf Surrounded by Symbols of Allied Cities, which dates back to 1369 but which we know have been maintained and redone throughout the centuries when it wasn't customary to protect them. Some of them have parts that are pretty worn out. Each panel has its own story - we invite you to look all around the cathedral and find the ones that appeal to you the most and then go find out about the story in the panel by buying one of the small guides in the bookshop dedicated to the pavement.
ITALY ROAD TRIP VLOG: PART TWO - ROME TO TUSCANY
HELEN and SIMON are travel bloggers from the UK – this is PART TWO of a 14-day road trip adventure around Italy. After visiting Venice and Rome, we’re hitting the road in a Spaceships camper car to Viterbo and the gorgeous coastal area of Castiglione della Pescaia, before winding through the olive groves of the Tuscan countryside en route to beautiful Florence. All the details on where we went, what we did and where we stayed are below.
DON'T MISS …coming up in PART THREE…Lucca, Pisa, the Cinque Terre National Park and Tarquinia Beach.
Hi everyone! We wanted to explore a bit of gorgeous Italy and travelling in a cosy campervan was the most affordable and flexible option! We picked up our camper car in Rome from Spaceships Rentals (prices below) and it was an amazing way to see this stunning country. It was my first visit to Italy and I can't WAIT to go back! I would love to hear your comments on where else in Italy we should see! Happy Travels, Helen
FOR PART ONE - CLICK HERE
✦SUBSCRIBE: For more videos!
♥ Snapchat: passportstampsUK
♥ Helen's Twitter:
◂ ❤FOLLOW ME ❤ ▸
→ Website:
→ Blog:
→ Instagram:
→ Twitter:
→ Facebook:
→ Periscope: @passportstampsuk
→ Bloglovin:
→ Email: helen@passportstamps.uk
Passportstamps.uk was named one of the top 15 travel blogs to watch in 2015 by Yahoo! AND Consumer Travel Website of the Year 2015 (Travel Media Awards) FINALIST.
ALL THE DETAILS OF THE TRIP ARE BELOW - Let me know if I left anything out!
Camper Car: spaceshipsrentals.co.uk. Camper Car prices from: €40 per day - European insurance included.
Metro travel cards:
- Standard ticket (€1.50) - valid for one Metro ride or 100 minutes.
- 24hr (€7.00), 48hr (€12.50), 72hr (€18.00), weekly ticket (€24.00) - valid for unlimited metro, bus and train travel within Rome.
Colosseum: Full Price (€12.00), Reduced (€7.50), Audio Guide (€5.50), Video Guide (€6.00)
Vatican Museum: Full Price (€16.00), Reduced (€8.00), online reservation fee (€4.00). Audio guide (€7.00).
Camping Tiber, Rome: Camper (Low Season: €10.50, High Season €12.60 per night). Includes electricity, use of swimming pool and internet.
Camping Maremma Sans Souci, Castiglione della Pescaia: Camper (€9, €14, €18 depending on season). Includes access to private beach. Restaurant, pizzeria and mini market on site.
Camping Le Soline, Casciano di Murlo, nr Siena: Camper Car (€8) – includes access to swimming pool. Restaurant, pizzeria and small shop on site.
Lo Sdrucciolo Restaurant, Via Sdrucciolo de Pitti, 50125, Florence. Charming little restaurant away from the main tourist spots serving tasty cheeses, antipasti and pasta. Two courses + wine for between €11-15.
Edited by Simon Henry and Helen Wright
Music from YouTube audio library: Cloud Patterns by Silent Partner; It's All Happening by Huma Huma; Water Lily by The 126ers, Music from YouTube audio library: Cloud Patterns by Silent Partner; It's All Happening by Huma Huma; Water Lily by The 126ers, Brightly Fancy - Oddities by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (
Source: Artist:
passportstamps.uk was created by Helen Wright. Helen has been a freelance lifestyle journalist for eleven years, writing for titles such as National Geographic Traveller, Daily Mail, The Express, Fabulous, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Stylist, MrHyde, Spa Secrets, Great Escapes, ABTA, ASTA, FHM and OK! Helen has written stories on virtually everything from fashion to festivals, women’s health, sex, relationships, art, beauty, grooming and booze, but the topic she likes to chat about the most is, of course, travel. In 2010 Helen won Virgin Atlantic’s Red Hot Reporter competition and in 2013 was VUSA Highly Commended Travel Writer of the Year.
Helen or Passportstamps.uk were not paid to endorse this destination - we just loved it!
You scrolled down THIS FAR? You deserve a shout out! Comment 'BELLA ITALIA!' in the comments box and magical things might happen...
Siena and Tuscany's Wine Country
Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide | Check your local public television station for this Rick Steves’ Europe episode or watch it on Siena, once a proud and independent city-state, retains its confidence and unique traditions. We'll enjoy a front-row seat at its wild horse race — the venerable Palio — and marvel at cultural treasures from the days when it rivaled Florence for leadership of Tuscany. Then we'll head into wine country for a little dolce vita under the Tuscan sun.
Visit for more information about this destination and other destinations in Europe.
Check out more Rick Steves’ Europe travel resources:
“Rick Steves’ Europe” public television series:
“Travel with Rick Steves” public radio program:
European Tours:
Guidebooks:
Travel Gear:
Trip Consulting:
Travel Classes:
Rick Steves Audio Europe App:
Rick Steves, America's most respected authority on European travel, writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.
Italy/San Donato in Poggio (Chianti Star Festival) Part 57/84
Welcome to my travelchannel.On my channel you can find almost 1000 films of more than 70 countries.
See the playlist on my youtube channel.Enjoy!
San Donato in Poggio mediaeval festival
The Chianti village of San Donato in Poggio, Tuscany
San Donato in Poggio is a mediaeval village of great charm located near the Via Cassia, the highway that runs along the western boundary of the Chianti Classico wine zone from Florence to Sienna. In modern times, the Via Cassia has been superceded by the Florence-Sienna motorway but in fact a drive along the Via Cassia is second in interest only to the Via Chiantigiana which runs right down the middle of Chianti.
The main street of San Donato in Poggio, Chianti
In any case, those making a motor excursion through this part of Chianti should be sure to stop for an hour or so in San Donato. Quite a stretch of the 12 C defensive wall remains intact along with two mediaeval gateways, the Porta Fiorentina and Porta Senese. There’s also a fine watch tower, Il Torrino, springing up from the wall.
The main street, Via del Giglio, runs from Porta Fiorentina to the main piazza, location of Palazzo Malaspina and the church of Santa Maria della Neve, that rare structure in Tuscany, a Gothic church, dating from the 15 C. In the middle of the piazza, there is octagonal well that was the main source of water for San Donato through most of its history. The Palazzo Pretorio, largely reconstructed following World War II bomb damage, faces Palazzo Malaspina.
The most important church in San Donato is the Pieve di San Donato located near the Porta Senese. This parish church is Romanesque in style, like almost all Chianti parish churches (pievi), and is documented as early as the year 989. It houses a Della Robbia baptismal font dating from 1513.
There are two restaurants and a number of food supply shops in San Donato.
The historical village of Sambuca in Val di Pesa, Tuscany
Tuscany Week Long Road Trip Vlog | Florence, Siena, Pisa, Wine Tasting, Things to Do
Follow us LIVE as we travel!
Join us on this vlog as we spend 6 days driving through Tuscany, Italy. We visit Siena, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano & more. Wine and cheese tasting, eating too much pizza and pasta.
San Gimignano at 1:37
Aquaviva Hotel & Spa at 2:19
Monteriggioni at 3:13
Siena at 4:10
Tips about Car Parking at 5:10
Florence at 7:20
Il Piano Wine Tasting at 8:41
Volterra, Casole D'elsa, Cecina, Leaning Tower of Pisa all at 10:50
To join us for more journeys and food around the globe, including 3 Days in Rome, follow us here:
90% shot on iPhone 6S with the rest iPhone 7 Plus.
Follow Suitcase Monkey on Facebook:
????
Follow Suitcase Monkey on Instagram:
????
Follow Suitcase Monkey on Twitter:
????
* TO BOOK THE HOTEL WE STAYED AT:
Siena:
Parking in Florence:
Pinocchio shop:
Wine Tasting: ilpianowines.com
Hip Hop Christmas by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Artist:
* Denotes affiliate link that supports this channel at no extra cost to you.
#SuitcaseMonkeyTravelsEurope
#SuitcaseMonkeyTravelVlog
Exploring Isolated Tuscany | Mountain Biking Italy
Looking to get away from the tourist areas, I go exploring Tuscany in Italy on an old rental mountain bike. I succeed in getting off from the beaten track, so well that the areas I end up in make me genuinely scared.
Music - Endeavour by Jahzzar from the album Super
———————————————————————————————
IF YOU’VE ENJOYED THIS VIDEO PLEASE SUBSCRIBE
———————————————————————————————
???? Secret Guide To Tuscany Italy: Monteriggioni, Siena, San Gimignano 4K
Discover Tuscany with our 7 day Complete Guide To Tuscany Italy! Visit main attractions in Monteriggioni, Siena, San Gimignano! Only to be pictured with wine, excellent food and a slow paced lifestyle.
????Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
????Connect with us:
☕️ For collabs:
►Finance our Travel Guides with a small donation:
►MAP LOCATIONS:
►Our Travel Gear:
-YouTube Gear
-Equipment HACKS
-Defend yourself
-Lightweight gear
-Heavyweight gear
How would you plan a Cheap holiday in Tuscany? The most romantic fairy tale region in Italy?
00:58 Booking our stay from Booking.com
01:48 San Gimignano Italy
04:02 Farm Stay Agriturismo dell'Arnano
04:53 Siena and Palio Horse Race
11:38 Monteriggioni
15:17 Restaurant La Speranza
16:52 Castles and B&Bs
19:04 Castellina in Chianti
20:26 Cecchi Wine Tour
22:13 What wines should you buy?
If you want to get in touch feel free to look us up on:
►Instagram
►Facebook page
►Website
We hope you have an amazing time!
Thank you for your support!
Orlando & Zdenka
#wishcasting
Enjoy!
Being for centuries at the center of Italian history explains why this beautiful region has so many Unesco world heritage sights and iron-strong traditions.
Rustic farms, manicured fields, cypress driveways and roman-medieval-renaissance citadels overlooking vast green landscapes from hill tops.
1)San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a small medieval hill town in the province of Siena. Famous for its medieval architecture, preserved tall tower houses and encircling walls located on the top of a hill. Also known for it's San Gimignano wine, Vernaccia.
2)Agriturismo dell'Arnano (Agriturismo is a luxurious farm stay away from the city)
We chose to book a Farm stay away from the city noise and stress.
15 km from Siena, in the town of Sovicille
This agriturismo cost us 324 euros for 3 guests for 7 nights for a total of 15.5 Euros pp per night. That's insane!
3)Siena and it's Palio horse race
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy.
The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site.
It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions. Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio Horse race.
According to local legend, Siena was founded by Senius and Aschius, two sons of Remus and thus nephews of Romulus, after whom Rome was named.
Supposedly after their father's assassination by Romulus, they fled Rome, taking the statue of the she-wolf suckling the infants (Capitoline Wolf), thus appropriating that symbol for the town.
The Palio di Siena is a horse race that is held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards.
4)Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni is a comune in the province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany. The town hosts several piazzas and is referenced in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. Strategically positioned outpost later fortified to be the first line of defense against the enemy neighbor Florence.
5)La Speranza Restaurant
By far my favorite restaurant for its price and it's quality. Few tourists know about this place, mainly attended by local farmers, hunters, police officers, fire brigade, etc.
6)Castles around our farm stay ( Str. della Villa, 7, 53035 Monteriggioni Loc. La Villa SI, Italy)
If you go to Tuscany you'll find castles scattered all over the place just like these ones. This one is B&B “la torre della signoria”. Within walking distance is another castle called Castello della Chiocciola, named after it's spiral staircase.
7)Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti is a municipality of 2,800 inhabitants, located about 15 kilometres northwest of Siena. It is part of the Chianti Hills.
The first settlements date from the Etruscan age.
The city has roman and medieval details.
8)Cecchi Wine Tour
Pay a visit and enjoy:
-A wine tour of the vineyards and line of production executed by a professional master sommelier
-Wine tasting of 2 flagship wines and 3 premium signature wines
-Coupling of wine with food (aperitivo with locally cured meat and bruschetta)
-Olive oil tasting
Music Credits:
Bushwick Tarantella by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Source:
Artist:
Cortona Italy | Things To Do in Tuscany Destinations
The hill town of Cortona in Italy is a relatively peaceful Tuscany destination. After rushing around all the things to do in Tuscany cities such as Florence and Siena, Cortona offers a welcome change in pace.
Walk up to the Fortezza del Girifalco and enjoy the beautiful view from Cortona down the valley, afternoon siestas in Cortona Town Hall Square as you drink coffee and watch life go by.
If you are looking for nightlife then Cortona is not the place for you, but there are a number of other things to do in Cortona including churches and monuments. The walk up to Fortezza Del Girifalco is worth the climb for the views over the Tuscany Countryside.
On my walk to the top of the hill I will show you some of the things to do in Cortona as a tourist in Tuscany including:
Cortona Cathedral
Cortona Town Hall
Teatro Signorelli
The Garibaldi Memorial Monument
Church of San Francesco
Hermitage Le Celle
Basilica di Santa Margherita
and last, and maybe even least considering the entrance fee, the Fortezza del Girifalco.
I enjoyed wandering round the Fortezza del Girifalco, there is lots of history there and I like to wander around ruined castles and forts, however I do not feel that it was worth the 5 Euro entry fee.
All the music in this travel video is taken from a live outdoor classical music performance in Cortona.
If you would like to see more of my road trip through Tuscany Italy then don't forget to subscribe and click on the bell notification. There is much more to come on my Vloggers Guide to Europe...
DRIVING THRU ITALY: TUSCANY, ROME, SORRENTO, AMALFI COAST
I love skincare and travel and I have some FREE travel coupons to share, if you would like one, no obligation or credit card required please use the link below. If you have any issue, please email me kim@jetset-guru.com
FREE TRAVEL BUDDY PASS
DRIVING THRU ITALY TO FLORENCE, TUSCANY, ROME, POMPEII, SORRENTO & AMALFI, Our Ancient Civilization Trip
Our two week Ancient Civilization trip continues. We leave Greece and Fly to Italy. We start in Florence. Here we stay at the Sina Villa Medici Marriott Autograph Hotel. This property is in a great location for walking everything in the historic area of Florence. We climbed the duomo (make sure to make your reservations as only so many people can climb at once). We visited the Medici Palazzo (house) and walked the Ponte Vecchio (the bridge with the houses on it). We tried to attend church but with a marathon going on we could not make it as the running line trapped us in the historic center. I had the best truffle pasta at Hostaria Il Desco.
After Florence we loaded into our 9 passenger van, which makes total sense in the USA and not so much in ancient cities; and drove thru Tuscany on our way down to Rome. We did the Chianti region which was beautiful, full of charm, and even though it was rainy and cold the hills were still full of color.
In Rome we stayed at the Marriott Grand Hotel Flora, here we had a two bedroom which was fun to be all together. This hotel is next to the ancient wall and close to the Vatican City. The first morning we headed out early to the Vatican City. Here we had a tour guide so we skipped the line into the museum, saw the Sistine Chapel, St Peters Basilica and admired all the marble.
Afterwards we headed toward the Colosseum and had a 2 hour lunch at a restaurant that really knows how to make yummy soup. Gli Angeletti its on Via dell'Angeletto, 3, Roma
After warming up with soup we headed over to the Colosseum ran around for a bit, then took a crazy cab ride back to the hotel.
That night steer being exhausted from a long day we stayed in with room service.
The next morning we packed up and drove down to Pompeii. This was what Turner really wanted to see on this trip. Pompeii was much larger than I ever thought and we spent about 2 hours walking thru the 165 acre complex.
Then we continued on to Sorrento where we had an AirB&B in the heart of Sorrento. The location and space was great. In fact its by a Super Host and overall it was fine and would work for my family of 6 if we returned.
However, I don't know if I will ever go back to Sorrento or the Amalfi coast. I felt like its this hyped up place but in all honesty there really isn't anything special. We all agreed it felt like the whole area had been turned into a destination for cruise ships, the food isn't great and everything about it feels extremely tourist. Solerno at the end of the coast is actually better. Still we had trouble finding well prepared food. We were not on a budget but seriously finding really well prepared food in Italy was difficult no matter what we spent. Its frustrating because you think Italy will have amazing food flowing everywhere but the truth is that because so many areas only cater to tourists I think they lower their quality and change the authenticity to suit what travelers think they want. I had the best luck with soups. The truffle pasta in Florence and actually the pizza crust in Sorrento was really good.
After Sorrento, we drove back to Rome and took a flight to Istanbul. Turkey is a true highlight of this trip.
#jifutravel #drivingitaly #pompei
Siena, Italy: Passeggiata and Aperitivo
More info about travel to Siena: The Italian ritual of the early evening stroll is called the passeggiata. After cruising through the stony streets with friends and family, enjoy an aperitivo cocktail and snacks during the Italian version of happy hour.
At you'll find money-saving travel tips, small-group tours, guidebooks, TV shows, radio programs, podcasts, and more on this destination.
Uphill bike ride from Florence to San Polo in Chianti Tuscany Italy
Biking up and down the hills enjoying the nice view of the countryside. San Polo in Chianti aside from producing wine and olive oil also cultivate Giaggioli or Iris flowers.
Tuscany's Dolce Vita
Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide | Tuscany offers a dolce vita mix of hearty cuisine, fascinating history, and gentle beauty. First we'll learn about the original Tuscans — the ancient Etruscans — at Volterra's Etruscan Museum, then we'll tour a hill town that was important to both the Etruscans and the Romans, head into the woods for a truffle hunt, eat slow food Italian-style during Sunday lunch in Chiusure, and finish in Montepulciano, where we'll get passionate about the local wine.
© 2006 Rick Steves' Europe
Tuscany Italy Road Trip: Lake Trasimeno Siena
I'm in Tuscany Italy - Travel with me on my Italy road trip as I drive from Cortona to Siena with a small detour to see Lake Trasimeno.
Don't forget to subscribe and click on the notification bell to so you don't miss my next Italy travel video of Things to Do in Siena.
The highlight of the day had to be Lago Trasimeno en-route between Cortona and Siena, it was simply beautiful, peaceful and serene, and a good opportunity to get the drone out (DJI Mavic Air) to take dome UAV video footage from the air for views over the lake.
I had an amazing day in Cortona yesterday hiking up to the fort and viewing all the churches and sights along the way culminating with an open air classical music concert in the square. If you haven't already seen it the video here:
Don't forget to give this video a thumbs up it you liked it, maybe drop a comment if you didn't to let me know why and how I can improve, or what was your favourite part of the video?
Bike ride to Mercatale in Chianti Tuscany Italy
The bike ride starts from Florence Italy to Mercatale in Val di Pesa a village that is a part of the town of San Casciano in Val di Pesa Italy. This village is in the land of the Chianti Classico where the famous wine and olive oil are produced. The roads are up and down the hills and some are rugged but the views are very nice. It is in the midst of the two valleys so since the old times it exercised its role as a market place for the nearby rural villages and castles. Enjoy the view and the songs of Ernie Oldfield.
Italy/San Donato in Poggio (Chianti/Tuscany) Part 56/84
Welcome to my travelchannel.On my channel you can find almost 1000 films of more than 70 countries.
See the playlist on my youtube channel.Enjoy!
San Donato in Poggio:
The Chianti village of San Donato in Poggio, Tuscany
San Donato in Poggio is a mediaeval village of great charm located near the Via Cassia, the highway that runs along the western boundary of the Chianti Classico wine zone from Florence to Sienna. In modern times, the Via Cassia has been superceded by the Florence-Sienna motorway but in fact a drive along the Via Cassia is second in interest only to the Via Chiantigiana which runs right down the middle of Chianti.
The main street of San Donato in Poggio, Chianti
In any case, those making a motor excursion through this part of Chianti should be sure to stop for an hour or so in San Donato. Quite a stretch of the 12 C defensive wall remains intact along with two mediaeval gateways, the Porta Fiorentina and Porta Senese. There’s also a fine watch tower, Il Torrino, springing up from the wall.
The main street, Via del Giglio, runs from Porta Fiorentina to the main piazza, location of Palazzo Malaspina and the church of Santa Maria della Neve, that rare structure in Tuscany, a Gothic church, dating from the 15 C. In the middle of the piazza, there is octagonal well that was the main source of water for San Donato through most of its history. The Palazzo Pretorio, largely reconstructed following World War II bomb damage, faces Palazzo Malaspina.
The most important church in San Donato is the Pieve di San Donato located near the Porta Senese. This parish church is Romanesque in style, like almost all Chianti parish churches (pievi), and is documented as early as the year 989. It houses a Della Robbia baptismal font dating from 1513.
There are two restaurants and a number of food supply shops in San Donato.
The historical village of Sambuca in Val di Pesa, Tuscany
Siena Wine Tasting - Siena Ristorante Toscana Austin TX - Great Taste Austin
-
If your looking for great Italian dining experience that goes beyond the food, Siena is one of my top recommendations. With authentic ingredients and an American meat and potatoes twist on some famous dishes, Siena Ristorante is anything but your typical red sauce Italian restaurant. With their exquisite decor and the fire burning in their open fireplace, it makes for a perfect romantic dining get away. The inside is so breathtaking, it makes you feel as though you are in a serene farmhouse in Italy. My two favorite pasta dishes on the menu hands down are the Pappardelle al Cinghiale, and the Taglierini al Funghi. The Pappardelle is fresh pasta with wild boar ragu and is out of this world. You can taste a hint of the Chianti wine that they infused during the cooking process which is absolutely delicious. This fantastic dish would blend well with one of their Chianti wines. If you're new to blending wines and dishes, ask your waiter for his or her recommendation. The Taglierini al Funghi is fresh pasta with cremini mushrooms, shallots, Grana Padano (Italian cheese) and black truffle butter. Wow, this dish is bursting with flavor. If you like mushrooms, you'll love this rich buttery flavor with just the right amount truffles and mushrooms. I crave this entrée! I also was very excited when I tried their 32oz Angus Porterhouse grilled with sea salt, black pepper and extra virgin olive oil, served with sautéed spinach and rosemary roasted potatoes. This beef was the most tender beef I've had in a long time and just melted in my mouth. This entrée is recommended for two because it's so big and definitely a must eat. If you love Italian food as much as I do, you'll have to put Siena Ristorante Toscano at the top of your list for your next night out. Known for exceptional ingredients, a fantastic wine cellar and a warm, inviting atmosphere, Siena is always an excellent choice for great, hearty, Tuscan Italian cuisine. They really bring Italy to Austin! See you there!
Want to find out more about GREAT places to eat in Austin TX?
See you all soon!
Ashleigh Bravo!
Italy Part 4. Positano to Siena, Italy - Yoga with a beautiful view and 10 000 000 stairs
Here we will show you the million steps we take to get anywhere in beautiful Positano. Followed by our long road trip up north to Chianti wine region in Tuscany!
Italy: Hill Towns of Tuscany & Umbria – Rick Steves Travel Talks
In this travel class, Rick Steves describes Italy's Tuscany and Umbria — adjoining regions famous for their scenery, food, wine, and fine cities and hill towns (including Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Volterra, San Gimignano, Orvieto, Civita, and Assisi). Visit for more European travel information.