Last night we stuck our noses into Lonely Planet and read up on Tuscany and Florence specifically. It appears Florence isn't a particularly good looking city architecturally but is full of great museums and art galleries. Whereas by comparison the medieval town of Siena is a delight to explore without needing to enter a single building. Not being great art critics we made the choice and drove down to Siena.
Great choice. The town is beautiful with an old city wall, thin, winding, cobble stoned streets which are almost totally traffic free - apart from the ubiquitous scooters of course - and some stunning churches. A lot of them in fact. The cathedral was an absolute eye fest of white and green marble stretching into the azure skies. 11th century genius.
Some of the views across Tuscany from the town walls are amazing too. We wandered up to the university on the edge of the old city and were rewarded with a panoramic hillscape stretching off into the distance.
After spending a long afternoon in Siena we drove on down to the outskirts of Rome and are now camped up on the edge of the Tiber about 5 miles from the city. We'll stay here for a few days (no driving for a few days! Yay!) As we explore the city.
No driving tomorrow - I'm off to get a beer or three down my neck...
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