Siena and Tuscany
Our next destination was Siena, perhaps Italy's most beautiful inland city. We stayed at the Hotel Belvedere, an agritourismo in the beautiful Tuscan countryside.
The Belvedere was lovely, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. It had a very inviting swimming pool and large, well-appointed rooms. We ate two very good meals and two outstanding breakfasts in its dining room. (My only critique is that I would have preferred to spent more time in Siena rather than leaving in the early afternoon to have a second meal in the same location.)
Our very nice, very unique room. The bathroom was up the steps on a sort of mezzanine level. The "facilities" were dangerously situated on a raised platform which made use of the bathroom a sort of high wire act.
One of the most beautiful public spaces in Europe is the Siena campo. In the center is the city hall and a bell tower you can climb.
The Fountain of Joy, situated on the campo.
Beautiful Siena, from the observation deck atop the Duomo museum.
Siena's magnificent Duomo dating from the 14th century and containing art by such important artists as Michelangelo and Donatello. A room inside the cathedral houses the Piccolomini Library, covered in brightly colored murals dating from 1502 and 1503, depicting the life of Siena's favorite son, Pope Pius II. The murals have never been retouched and show the bright colors that were typically used in artwork of the time.
The cathedral museum houses many outstanding works of art, including the original rose window.
Trina offered our group an opportunity to visit a stained glass workshop. The artist/owner explained the process of creating his artwork and showed several of his recent commissions, including the one at right, made for the Villanova University School of Nursing
Just outside of Florence is one of two American cemeteries for casualties of the Second World War, the final resting spot for about 4,000 American soldiers.
