Bella Toscana!

We took a train to Florence, rented a car and now in Tuscany near beautiful Sienna!  Staying at a lovely and quiet La Gavina 'agritourismo' for a few days of chilling out. Loooove it.

Toward Greve in Chianti on the 222

La Gavina Agritourismo

Kitchen (all organic, an energy efficient green agritourismo)

Italian Hoopoe

On the way to Cortona

Cortona vista

Montepulciano tower!

Lovely lunch in Montepulciano

Superbikes to wine tasting route!

Montepulciano in the distance. (It was hard to choose, but probably Kristi's favorite)

Pienza vista

Pienza

On Italy's answer to the Camino de Santiago: Via Francigena (or Via Roma)

The mother of all stopping points - it had everything. Even a cappuccino if you call the number, a selfie mirror, brochures, maps, a credential stamp, water fonte, etc.

We met our future selves... they were great, out walking the Via.

At Villa

San Gimignano tower view

Iglecia

Getting a slice-a

Roman ruins at Volterra. Wow - these hillside towns in Tuscany are STUNNING

Etruscan museum

After each morning walking the Via, healthy breakfast, and a day of touring...we could come back to a beautiful 'family style' multi-course, organic, home-made dinner by Emiliano, his family, staff (and a WOOF volunteer). A-mazing. Really.

Back on the Via Francegena ("FranCHEhgenah")

A cappucino at Montereggioni after we walked on the Via. Lovely thing to do before breakfast!

Cooking class with Emiliano

Cooking class - only after we signed up, we heard "we're cooking for 25 tonight!"  (OMG, up until then it was 4 or 6 people).

Here's a video of Emiliano singing opera while we roll out pici pasta noodles by hand.  Just flour and water (no egg) and a thicker noodle. Simple tomato garlic, herbs sauce.

Table for 25. Countries represented: Ecuador, Spain, Sweden, US, Germany, Italy border w Slovenia 

Our pici!  OMG...SO friggen delicious!

And Emiliano belted out some tunes, even! 

We took a train from Florence to Lucca - where we've decided to visit each trip. Love this little town!

And the Via goes through Lucca! (More on the bike path in this section)

Near Sardi right out of Lucca

To Sardi winery!

In Lucca, Jane took a cooking class (Kristi bailed on it and headed to the hills!). It was strange not to take a class from Chef Paulo - but next time, we'll book way ahead and make sure we get in.

Day trip for Kristi to gorgeous riverside mountain village of Bagni di Lucca - about 25 minutes uphill train ride from Lucca.  Jane and I stayed at a lovely agritourismo near here about 5 years ago.   In town, there is a thermal hot spring and a nearby vista trail connecting villages.  Definitely put this on your list!

Roadside cafe

Train station (piccolo train)

Sunset in Lucca (view from the room at Al Tuscany)