Tuscan Day Trip

Looking for a break from bustling Florence, my friend Allison and I took a day trip to varying cities in Tuscany, a charming place to get a break from the busy and crowded streets of Florence. The scenery we immersed ourselves in was so surreal; the contrast of the vast rolling yellow and green hills against the clear blue sky was absolutely breathtaking! In a mere 12 hours, we took a guided tour of the Tuscany region, including: Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa.

Our tour began in the city of Siena; a quintessential Gothic city with lovely old streets and winding roads you can get lost in.

After leaving Siena, we made our way to a family owned vineyard/farm for lunch and wine tasting! Italians really do treat food and wine like an art. Everything was prepared, organized and delivered with such thought.

 While learning about various wines and what to pair them with, we started off our meal with bread, homemade olive oil and cheese. Next we were served a delicious bowl of Ribollita soup (a hearty soup made with leftover bread, cannelloni beans and vegetables). Next up was a heaping plate of homemade pasta with fresh tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. Lastly, we were offered biscotti, which we dipped in a sweet dessert wine. The whole meal was superb and it was a great experience learning about different kinds wines and how they are produced.

 After lunch, we departed to San Gimignano. What a beautiful place this was. So quaint and rustic; I was entranced the entire time! We spent an hour or so walking around and exploring the town. I loved how San Gimignano has a past and present which are so impressively entwined. And not to mention the views this city offered!

The last stop on our tour was Pisa. Of course, our first order of business was to take obligatory touristy photos with the tower! At this point in the tour we were so exhausted that sitting on the grass in front of the tower was exactly what we all needed.

 After touring the Tuscan countryside, I have decided that I am not only in love with Florence, but with Tuscany as well. A recommended visit for anyone traveling to Italy!