Revisiting Siena and Pisa on my second Italian tour

Our final destination for our first day of the second tour I undertook of Italy was Siena, which township I had visited before on my Insight Tour. But this tour was little different, as it was market day, although the market was held outside the walls of the historic town. This time we had a local guide who took us on a very different and all-too brief tour through the old town.

Like Pienza, the Siena market featured a huge range of plants. But it was a bigger affair altogether, and was extremely busy. People were pouring in, even though by now it was late afternoon. On this tour we saw three of at least four old cathedrals, all within the town. The first was a plainer-looking structure, but this time we went inside and there we saw a dedication to St Catherine of Siena, who had been an ordinary nun who did something extraordinary. At that time the Pope chose to live in France, and had no plans to return to Italy. But Catherine had a vision, and believed that he should return to Rome. So she walked all the way to his palace in France, on her own I believe, to persuade him to come back. That she succeeded was amazing, and so she is revered across Italy as one of the patron saints of Italy, together with St Francis of of Assisi.The other two cathedrals we saw were very ornate, although one was never completed. 

On the day we went to Siena, there were banners everywhere celebrating the winning of its famous 600-year old horse race known as Il Palio. This takes place in the large town square, with the spectators in the middle and the race track laid around the perimeter. The track is covered in clay. The town is divided into 14 different districts, each with its own name and symbol. Which district you are assigned to depends on where you were born. Even if you move, you still belong to that district. The race takes place on the same two days of the year and only six districts can race at a time; the others have to wait for a turn at the next race. The horses and the professional jockeys are each assigned to one of the competing districts. 

We stayed overnight at a very nice hotel about 15 minutes drive from the old town, then on the next morning we first visited another place I had seen before, the lovely San Gimignano, where again I simply had to have one of their world-famous gelatos, and some lovely toasted bread covered with their delicious local extra virgin olive oil. 

After that we drove on to a farmhouse that had beautiful gardens and which offered various nibbles along with samples of their wines. They emphasised that Italians only ever drink wine with food.  

Finally we visited Pisa, only this time it was sunny, not raining, and our guide left us at the entrance to wander around as we please. The buildings looked all the more sparkling in the sunlight, but of course the many people wandering about selling umbrellas with photos of Pisa did not do such a roaring trade. It was interesting to note that most the traders wandering about or running stalls looked like they were African, but while they were enthusiastic about getting a sale, they did not make a nuisance of themselves. I thought that was much more constructive and commendable than all the gypsies I have seen in Italy, who simply beg or steal and do make nuisances of themselves.

That night we stayed in the port city of La Spezia, ready for our full day at the famous Cinque Terre coastline.

Inside St Catherine's Cathedral, Siena. 

The special altar dedicated to St Catherine, where many people pray to her.

At the farmhouse. some of their wine is aged in ceramic pots.

The wine-tasting room with a view. This would be a great wedding venue.

The swans were the recent winners of the horse race in Siena.

Another cathedral in Siena. This was not the only black and white cathedral I saw in Italy. Unfortunately I cannot remember what this symbolises.

A close-up of part of the facade of the cathedral.

Another cathedral in Siena, which I would imagine was built in the baroque period.

A close-up of the ornate work in the front of the cathedral. I think the art work would have been a mosaic. 

The winery at the farm we visited.

Part of the beautiful gardens at the farmhouse.

A view of some of the vineyards belonging to the farm. 

I don't remember whether I pointed out in my previous post about the 'Leaning Tower of Pisa' that strangely, the flagpole on top is vertical. Also this is not the only tower in Italy that is at an angle due to the movement of the earth.

The gate into the old township of Pisa, so lovely in the sunshine.