Under the Tuscan Sun
Trip Start
Jan 07, 2008
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14
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Trip End
May 12, 2008
On Sunday we visited two of the most beautiful and famous Tuscan hill-top towns...Pienza and Montepulciano. After our three hour journey of winding through the rolling hills we first arrived in Pienza. Pienza was built in the 1400s by Pope Pius II and his architect Bernando Rossellino. Today the small village consists of about 1500 inhabitants who know everything about each others business and do everything together. When we arrived, Church was letting out (mind you there are only two in town and one is the center of town) and everyone gathered in the piazza to chat and play cards. The women all gather to catch up on each others lives and the men smoke and play cards as they shoot the shit. We then went on a short walk through town and saw why it is no wonder that this is the most charming of all Tuscan gems. Two of the hidden treasures that have made Pienza world famous are the streets Via del Bacio and Via dell'Amore (street of kiss and street of love). These streets have become monumental places for people to get engaged and marry (seems a bit cliché to me). The entire town is surrounded by a walk along the medieval fortressed walls where we enjoyed breathtaking views of the 360° Tuscan countryside. The weather was sunny and 6o as the morning fog lifted off the Tuscan Hills. Literally, the city was as picturesque as the Tuscan rolling hills seen in the books. Next Stop was Montepulciano where we would spend more time.
