San Gimignano and Monte Oliveto Maggiore

Because of the no-trains policy on the July 6th Italian holiday,our visit with my Sylvie and my brother, David, in Siena was reduced from 2 days to one. Nevertheless, it was a great day we had and very full from morning until night. We met David and Sylvie in front of the Duomo on Wednesday morning as planned and after visiting therein, we headed off in their comfortable and reliable Fiat to the 13th cenbtury town of San Gimignano, famous for its local wine called Vernaccia which Michelangelo had praised in his time. After climbing the tower, we also tried some excellent gelato from a local shop which claims to be the current world champion of gelato...it was pdg (pretty darn good). After that, David drove us to the 14th century Benedictine abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore which is renowned for its herbal medicines. Unfortunately, the herbal shop was closed by the time we arrived, but we were able to attend vespers and mass which were sung in Gregorian chant and we were also able to sample their wine before heading back to Siena. The landscapes along the Tuscan roads in this area are beuatiful. Low rolling hills covered in patchworks of golden wheat, bright yellow sunflowers, and green patches of hay, olive trees and vines. The crests of the hills are dotted with thin tree lines presumably delineating property lines. David and Sylvie were off to Venice the next day, and we had one more day to wander around Siena and use up some of David + Sylvie's "My name is Duccio" passs which allowed us entrance into the Museo dell Opera, the Baptistry, and the sanctuario de San Bernadino (the last of which we didn't see). We also had time to visit the sanctuary of Saint Catherine of Siena which was, originally, her home. Thanks David and Sylvie for the great day!