Thursday, September 30th 2004
By minibus:
San Gimignano,
Montalcino - Chianti,
Arrive Scansano farmhouse - Maremma | |
Breakfast and check out of the hotel. Departure by minibus to the Maremma.
The Maremma comprises much of southwest Tuscany, an area of great natural beauty. Its dramatic and varying landscapes, archeological treasures, and wildlife sanctuaries are rarely visited by American tourists. On the way to the Maremma, we will stop in San Gimignano, in the Chianti region, one of the most famous hilltowns in Tuscany, and then travel further into the southern Tuscan wine country before reaching our destination.
San Gimignano is know for its thirteen towers, which create a remarkable and unforgettable skyline. At the height of its glory the towers numbered seventy-two, according to local history. Every family of any standing had its own - the higher the better! Politics (and the need for building materials) eventually resulted in the topping of most of the towers during the town's turbulent history. Today, San Gimignano is the best preserved medieval city in Tuscany. The central piazza, with its deep cistern, reminds the visitor of the realities of life in the constantly warring state of Tuscany - a condition that persisted for centuries.
Many fine works of art are found in this beautiful little town. Its basilica, consecrated in 1148 by Pope Eugenius III, is decorated with frescoes and paintings by Italian masters.
The local olive oil and wine are fine examples of the Chianti production. San Gimignano is known in particular for its Vernaccia, a light, dry, and delicious white wine.
Lunch on the go. From San Gimignano, travel further into the Chianti and south to Montalcino.
Montalcino is a charming walled hill town in the center of the southern Tuscan wine country. The area is most renowned for its Brunello, a red, that is one of the finest of Italian wines. The town is a cluster of medieval houses, gardens, and olive orchards. Visitors are tempted to while away hours sampling Brunello and other fine local wines. The local countryside is also famous for the extraordinary Peccorino cheese, enjoyed fresh or aged.
The Montalcino of today is a beautiful and relaxing stop for the tour group. As the visitor becomes aware, multiple layers of time and history exist here. Throughout Tuscany, many of the families who carry out the tradition of wine-making trace their ancestry and occupation back hundreds of years; some carry the blood of Etruscan forefathers who made wine centuries before the birth of Christ. Montalcino itself was the site of prehistoric habitation before the Etruscans settled this part of Italy. The wine country itself in many ways exemplifies the tradition and history that permeates contemporary Italy.
Depature by minibus for Scansano.
Arrive in Scansano. Three nights' stay on a farm outside of the agricultural town of Scansano. Located on a beautiful hillside, the farm produces its own wine and olive oil, and provides meals of typical Tuscan cuisine. There is a pool, and on the free afternoon, sightseeing in the countryside by horseback is available for a minimal additional cost.
Dinner at the farm.
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