San Gimignano and Farewell Dinner
How do you say it? Pronouncing the name of today's town stumps many visitors, especially me. San "Jimmy-yawn-oh". Seems obvious enough but I still can't say it ten times fast. San Gimignano is yet another beautiful Tuscan hilltop town. It is a perfect portrait of the Middle Ages. What makes it unique are the amount of intact medieval towers.
In the Middle Ages the place was an important stop on the Via Francigena – the ancient pilgrim route from Canterbury to Rome. So focused on our bucket-list item of the more famous pilgrimage, Camino de Santiago, we will need to look into this one as well.
Home to a rich aristocracy, at one point San Gimignano had up to 72 towers. Today there are about 14. The only function of the towers was to show wealth and power.
Our tour of the city included the Torre e Casa Campatelli, recently opened to the public in 2016. Its website defines it as "An upper-middle class residence in the 19th and 20th centuries, the house through the furniture, interior decor and paintings retraces and tells the memoirs, atmosphere and events of a typical Tuscan family and a society from a bygone era." The perk of a visit here is its well-done 'Thousand Years of San Gimignano' audiovisual presentation about the history of the city.
Part of a Tauck tour includes "surprises" not listed on the itinerary. Along the tower tour, Tauck ambushed us with savory wild boar salami and scrumptious Vernaccia white wine - overlooking the surrounding lush farmland. Then we were handed a ticket for "world champion" gelato. Mama Mia! Leisure is exhausting!
With 30 minutes to spare before meeting time, we decided to climb the highest tower in San Gimignano – Torre Grossa. To stop the tower-building frenzy, the city passed a law that 54 m is tallest - you cannot build higher than the municipality's Torre Grossa.
Back on the bus, Nicole said those dreaded words ... turn in your Vox. (Unless we want her voice in our heads back home.) Our tour was drawing to a close. Then she shared with us a great Dr. Seuss quote: Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. It might sound silly to cry - but the other 159 guests weren't leaving their high school best friend.
Oh but wait - it is not over yet! With an hour to spare before leaving for our farewell dinner, Tauck squeezes in a cooking class presented by Castelfalfi's executive chef Michele Rinaldi. Not only will I likely never have an opportunity to speak to much less learn how to cook from a Michelin-star-earning chef, I know I will never put two days aside to make delectable home-made pasta and sauce. It was a treat!
The farewell dinner for Tauck's "Under the Tuscan Sun" was held at the Museo Piaggio, exclusively open for Tauck guests amidst its collection of Vespas.
In the Middle Ages the place was an important stop on the Via Francigena – the ancient pilgrim route from Canterbury to Rome. So focused on our bucket-list item of the more famous pilgrimage, Camino de Santiago, we will need to look into this one as well.
Home to a rich aristocracy, at one point San Gimignano had up to 72 towers. Today there are about 14. The only function of the towers was to show wealth and power.
San Gimignano's medieval architecture almost looks like a line of skyscrapers since the town sits atop a hill.
Everywhere you look there is another tower
Our tour of the city included the Torre e Casa Campatelli, recently opened to the public in 2016. Its website defines it as "An upper-middle class residence in the 19th and 20th centuries, the house through the furniture, interior decor and paintings retraces and tells the memoirs, atmosphere and events of a typical Tuscan family and a society from a bygone era." The perk of a visit here is its well-done 'Thousand Years of San Gimignano' audiovisual presentation about the history of the city.
Part of a Tauck tour includes "surprises" not listed on the itinerary. Along the tower tour, Tauck ambushed us with savory wild boar salami and scrumptious Vernaccia white wine - overlooking the surrounding lush farmland. Then we were handed a ticket for "world champion" gelato. Mama Mia! Leisure is exhausting!
Enjoying our Vernaccia wine and view from the Campatelli tower
A wonderful week with mom and Nicole
Line for the "best gelato in the world" at Gelateria Dondoli, known for their signature flavor: saffron. It was yummy!
With 30 minutes to spare before meeting time, we decided to climb the highest tower in San Gimignano – Torre Grossa. To stop the tower-building frenzy, the city passed a law that 54 m is tallest - you cannot build higher than the municipality's Torre Grossa.
Torre Grossa - San Gimignano's tallest tower (177 feet)
View over San Gimignano from the top of Torre Grossa
Back on the bus, Nicole said those dreaded words ... turn in your Vox. (Unless we want her voice in our heads back home.) Our tour was drawing to a close. Then she shared with us a great Dr. Seuss quote: Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. It might sound silly to cry - but the other 159 guests weren't leaving their high school best friend.
Oh but wait - it is not over yet! With an hour to spare before leaving for our farewell dinner, Tauck squeezes in a cooking class presented by Castelfalfi's executive chef Michele Rinaldi. Not only will I likely never have an opportunity to speak to much less learn how to cook from a Michelin-star-earning chef, I know I will never put two days aside to make delectable home-made pasta and sauce. It was a treat!
The farewell dinner for Tauck's "Under the Tuscan Sun" was held at the Museo Piaggio, exclusively open for Tauck guests amidst its collection of Vespas.
Vespa museum
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