After four amazing days in Rome, we bussed up to Siena for a few days in Tuscany! The first day was all about Siena - we stayed at the most beautiful bed and breakfast, Campo Regio Relais, that has an amazing terrace overlooking the Siena skyline - duomo and campanielle. We took the recommendation of hotel staff and went around the corner to a little Trattoria specializing in pici pasta and rabbit - we were not disappointed! Lunch was amazing - my parents think it was the best meal of the trip! After lunch we visited the Duomo, San Dominico which features the preserved head of Saint Catherine, and finally walked the Fortezza, which has contrasting views of the Siena skyline and surrounding Tuscany countryside.
That evening we started with a happy hour on our hotel terrace, followed by dinner at one of the best restaurants in Tuscany - La Taverna di San Giuseppe. There we feasted on the most amazing gnocchi I have EVER had (and those who know me know that is really saying something!). Nate and I split it - a gnocchi with truffle, lovely melt in your mouth truffle. Truthfully, I could have written an entire blog post about this gnocchi.
In the afternoon we stopped in two really cool medieval towns - Monteriggioni and Castellina di Chianti. We enjoyed gelatto and seeing the medieval walls in Monteriggioni and paved tunnels in Castellina di Chianti. We also drove past some famous vineyards, including the family winery Cecchi where Nate and I stopped for a picture! (I told you we had the best tour guide!).
Our final stop was Montalcino, famous for the Brunello di Montalcino wine that is only produced in a few select vineyards and is incredibly expensive if you buy it in the United States. From the town, we went slightly outside of town to one of the vineyards where we had a wine tasting. It is an incredible red wine, we all loved it! The views from the winery were amazing. The owner of the winery loved mom - he even posed for a picture with her! I told him in Italian that Nate was my boyfriend and he replied in Italian, well hey may be your boyfriend, but he doesn't get a hug! And gave me a hug. It was too funny!
On our trip back into Siena, we stopped for a view of a monastery. We also caught the sun setting from the car window. It was a magical day!
That evening we started with a happy hour on our hotel terrace, followed by dinner at one of the best restaurants in Tuscany - La Taverna di San Giuseppe. There we feasted on the most amazing gnocchi I have EVER had (and those who know me know that is really saying something!). Nate and I split it - a gnocchi with truffle, lovely melt in your mouth truffle. Truthfully, I could have written an entire blog post about this gnocchi.
Our second day in Tuscany was an all-day (and I mean all day - 12 hours!) wine and sightseeing tour of the Chianti region of Tuscany. We had an amazing tour guide who just finished training to be a sommelier and he knew everything. We started in San Gimingnano, a town famous for all its towers. While we were there I got my favorite magnet of the trip - a tiny bag of actual pasta. Really, it's the small things that make me happy! From there, we stopped in a lovely spot for a wine tasting and lunch. The wine featured there was a white wine called Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
In the afternoon we stopped in two really cool medieval towns - Monteriggioni and Castellina di Chianti. We enjoyed gelatto and seeing the medieval walls in Monteriggioni and paved tunnels in Castellina di Chianti. We also drove past some famous vineyards, including the family winery Cecchi where Nate and I stopped for a picture! (I told you we had the best tour guide!).
Our final stop was Montalcino, famous for the Brunello di Montalcino wine that is only produced in a few select vineyards and is incredibly expensive if you buy it in the United States. From the town, we went slightly outside of town to one of the vineyards where we had a wine tasting. It is an incredible red wine, we all loved it! The views from the winery were amazing. The owner of the winery loved mom - he even posed for a picture with her! I told him in Italian that Nate was my boyfriend and he replied in Italian, well hey may be your boyfriend, but he doesn't get a hug! And gave me a hug. It was too funny!
On our trip back into Siena, we stopped for a view of a monastery. We also caught the sun setting from the car window. It was a magical day!
Up next: Pisa pit-stop and last day in Rome!
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