Teresa and I are really getting excited now because we leave for Italy on Thursday morning. We'll be spending two weeks in Florence and several days in Venice doing a final survey of the best places for our tours to stay, eat, shop, and explore. I'm especially looking forward to visiting the Uffizi and all the museums and churches to see my favorite paintings and to discover new ones. We've also planned a couple of day trips: one to Siena and one to Fiesole. Both are places we plan to take our groups, and I wanted to tell you a bit about each one, so you'll understand why.
Siena is a lovely medieval city about an hour and a half from Florence. It's famous Piazza Del Campo, the 
huge main square, is familiar to anyone who's seen pictures of the wild Palio horse race that takes place every August. Siena's Duomo is one of the most spectacular in Italy, and one of the few south of the Alps built in Gothic style. Its gorgeous facade, beautiful inlaid marble floor, black and white pillars, and collection of Gothic sculpture are amazing. There are also several small museums; the best is the Pinacoteca Nazionale. As you might guess, it's home to many important works by medieval and Renaissance artists of the Siena School.
The city itself is built on seven hills, and nearly all the buildings were put up during Siena's golden age between 1260 and 1348. Unfortunately, in 1348 the Black Plague ravished the city and more than a third of the population died. Two hundred years later even more died in an 18-month siege by the Florentines. The victorious Florentines decreed that no further development could take place in the city, effectively creating a place frozen in time.
In Florence you see the glories of the Renaissance; in Siena you see the charms of medieval Italy. Of course, you'll have time to enjoy a meal and perhaps a glass of wine at one of the many authentic trattorias (we'll be searching for the best), and for visiting such sights as the home of St. Catherine of Siena,the Civic Museum with its art and fabulous view of rural Tuscany, the smaller art-filled churches, and for strolling the pedestrian-only historic center.
We'll also spend a relaxing afternoon in Fiesole, the small village in the hills only five miles north of Florence. The views from here are incredible, and the Roman and Etruscan ruins are definitely worth seeing. For example, here's a picture of the Roman amphitheater.
Fiesole is quite small and easy to explore. In addition to the ancient sites, there is a good museum with Roman and Etruscan artifacts, and some well-preserved villas built by the Medicis and other wealthy Florentine aristocrats as summer places. It's the perfect place for a picnic or a leisurely lunch in a cafe when your eyes need a rest and you need a little break from art, churches, and shopping. I can't imagine going to Florence and not spending some time up here.
I hope to have a chance to write once more before we leave, but in any case, I plan to check in whenever possible and send updates from an Internet cafe. As always, your comments are most welcome.
