Tuscany
Winter 2020/2021
After a lovely New Year’s Eve celebration with friends in Genova, we set off for Tuscany on 1 January 21. We had chosen a relatively short route for the first day. We travelled to La Spezia. We travelled part of the way on the country road that runs above the sea. We had a wonderful view of the cliffs with their vineyards. We parked the car just before La Spezia. We wanted to take a short hike to Monasteroli. Almost two thousand steps lead down to these old houses on the cliffs. The houses were only partially inhabited in the past and were mainly used to process the grapes from the surrounding vineyards.
We were almost alone there and stayed until sunset. It was a great atmosphere sitting on the steps between the old houses and vineyards and enjoying the view of the deep blue sea.
Colonnata
The next day, we travelled on to Tuscany. You can already see the huge marble quarries near Massa-Carrarra from the motorway. They glow bright white from the mountainsides. We decided to visit the small village of Colonnata, which was founded around 40 AD for the extraction of marble. It is a small village of quarry workers. Nothing was open this early in the morning. So we strolled through the winding alleyways. Some small squares are paved with black and white marble slabs. It looks very classy. It’s quite cool in the shade in the morning. We sat down for breakfast in a small café. We warmed up again with a cappuccino and a piece of crostata.
Pisa
After spending the morning in Colonnata, we travelled on to Pisa. Here, too, we only made a short stop. After the peaceful hike to Monasteroli and the quiet village this morning, it was completely crowded in Pisa. We had bought tickets for the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta in Pisa. Together with many other tourists, we marvelled at the beautiful architecture. Construction of the cathedral began in 1063 and was only completed 200 years later. However, as only Carrara marble was used.After spending the morning in Colonnata, we travelled on to Pisa. Here, too, we only made a short stop. After the peaceful hike to Monasteroli and the quiet village this morning, it was completely crowded in Pisa. We had bought tickets for the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta in Pisa. Together with many other tourists, we marvelled at the beautiful architecture. Construction of the cathedral began in 1063 and was only completed 200 years later. Inside, it has a golden coffered ceiling and beautiful mosaics in the apse and on the floor.
Siena
We spent the next night very close to Siena. We drove into the city centre for dinner. The damp winter air drifted through the empty alleyways. It was easy to imagine what it might have been like here in the past. On our first evening walk, we passed Siena Cathedral and the Piazza del Campo and discovered some of the 17 contrade (neighbourhood communities). Siena probably dates back to an Etruscan settlement, but it was not until the Middle Ages that the city gained its true significance.
The next day we visited the cathedral of Siena. This is made of black and white marble and is one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in Italy. Construction began at the beginning of the 13th century and continued into the 14th century.
The semi-circular Piazza del Campo is a medieval square where the famous Palio di Siena horse race takes place every year. The city administration is also based here.
San Gimignano
Our next stop was San Gimignano, another small town that dates back to an Etruscan settlement. The town’s heyday was during the Middle Ages and lasted 160 years. The medieval family towers, of which a few are still preserved, are particularly striking. In the Middle Ages, the patrician families tried to outdo each other in the height of their towers. Of the 72 towers that once existed, 15 are still standing, with the two tallest towers, Torre Grossa from 1311 and Torre della Rognosa, standing at 54 metres and 51 metres respectively.
Lucca
Before returning home, we spent the night in Lucca. The textile industry was very important in Lucca. We took a short walk along the Mura di Lucca, the completely preserved city wall. Again and again we were able to look into the gardens of the houses on the city wall.
There are still a few medieval towers in Lucca, the most important of which is the Torre Guinigi. There is a small hanging garden at the top. However, life in the towers was not really comfortable.
We climbed up the Torre Guigini and marvelled at the hanging garden and enjoyed the view of the city.
Piazza dell`Anfiteatro
La cattedrale di San Martino
