Monday, October 17, 2011–Florence Italy–drive from the Monastery back to Florence Italy for a few days

Departed the Monastery this morning to return to Florence Italy. We are staying at the Il Salotto di Firenze above the Gucci Store on the Plaza.    This is a super location and very reasonable.  It is located in the heart of Florence within the historical architectural Via Roma and Piazza della Repubblica, directly facing the Duomo (church) and its Battistero that was built in 1860.

For sunset we had drinks at the Inter Continental Hotal on the roof top bar with a beautiful view of the Ponte Viccio and the city.

Florence's museums, palaces, and churches house some of the greatest artistic treasures in the world. The most popular and important sites in Florence include the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the Accademia. The churches of Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce are art galleries, and the library of San Lorenzo is a magnificent exhibition of Michelangelo's architectural genius. We wandered around some of the oldest streets in the city then reached the Arno River, crossed the Ponte Vecchio, and experienced the "newest" area of Florence - the Oltrarno.

Below the Cathedral;

            

They were tuning the pipe organ while we were there:

  

 

 

Doors of the Baptistery

  

  Going to see what is on the shopping street.

One of the many shopping market areas.

  The Street Chalk Artist

  Elaine touching the Boar for good luck.

  Bell Tower

   

Museums

 

  Toured the Uffizi Museum

  Street along the River

  Elaine on the River going to the Ponte Vecchio bridge to see the jewerly shops.

Ponte Vecchio bridge

 

Nick and Edward, “where did she go?” -  trying to get Judy from buying more scarves.

  

Views from the roof top bar at the Inter Continental Hotel

 

The Ponte Vicchio bridge

   

     Toasting to a great day!  Elaine, Edward, Judy and Nick.

    

Great sunset from the roof top bar.

Sunday, Oct 16 2011 – Sant Anna Monastery, eat breakfast then drive to San Gimignano, Italy and then to Siena, Italy

Breakfast at the Sant Anna Monastery,then drive to San Gimignano, Italy where they have the 8 towers and then to the medieval hill town of Siena, Italy.  Lunch in the Piazza el Campo, see the Torre de Mangia and then the Olive Harvesting back at the Monastery

 

Our rooms were in the 2 smaller building in the lower left. 

Agriturismo Sant'Anna in Camprena - The 17th century monastery converted into a farmhouse in Sant 'Anna in Camprena is a fascinating place located in the Tuscan hills away from major tourist routes.

Conference Room at the Monastery is the form dining area for the Monks.

 

Nick, Judy and Edward at breakfast in the Monastery.

Nick and Judy  at dinner in the Monastery

 

Elaine, Edward, Nick and Judy at dinner in the Monastery.

Courtyard entrance

Frescos on the walls

Hallway to dining room

  Dining Room

Door to Monastery

  Gardens

The place is very beautiful, so exceptional in its ambience, the atmosphere of the place is very special, you can still feel the presence of the monks and imagine tracing their footsteps on the worn stones. Yet they have long abandoned the premises.

Gimignano, Italy

After breakfast we drive to San Gimignano, Italy – 8 towers and a medieval hill town

   Steep streets going up to the top of the city.

 

Church located near the top.

Elaine at the town well.

Edward and Elaine at the town well.

Some of the towers.

 

More towers at the plaza

     

Beautiful large plaza at the top of the hill town.

  

The plaza at San Gimignano, Italy

Judy and Nick having lunch.

    

San Gimignano, Italy – everyone having lunch

A great soup for lunch.

     

Elaine at the fountain in San Gimignano, Italy

  Gargoyles on the walls of buildings.

After lunch we drove to Siena, Italy.

     Church in Siena, Italy has wonderful colors and design

    

  

The stained glass is so beautiful.

 

  

Below:  After we returned to the Monastery they were harvesting the olives on the grounds to make olive oil.  They shake the limbs to get the olives to fall on the drop cloths.