From Roma to Montepulciano to Pienza to Siena to Pistoia to Lucca to Pisa and then back to Roma! During the last weekend of October, our class traveled to Tuscany for a four-day trip-our schedule was clearly packed, but extremely memorable. Each of the cities were unique in their own way, and all of them were a refreshing change of scenery from the busy streets of Roma.
In Montepulciano, we got to enjoy cappuccinos and pastries from a famous bakery and enjoy the sun while laying in the field of the San Biago church. Being able to see the Tuscan landscape from the tower of the town’s main piazza was also a great way to start off the morning (The photo above and the first one below were taken from the bell tower in Montepulciano).
In Pienza, we explored and the town and stopped for lunch at small but crowded restaurant. Pienza is famous for its Pecorino cheese, so there were many great shops to buy cheeses, wine, and other goods.
Siena was the largest of the six towns we visited. It had much to see from its winding shopping streets to its cathedral and civic complexes. Personally, I enjoyed walking through the streets at night and the great pastries from the famous bakery Nannini the most.
We spent the night in Lucca before heading to Pisa. Lucca was very quaint and quite similar to Siena. The streets were small but bustling and the culture was very vibrant. I really enjoyed walking on top of the city wall, which surrounds the entire town and has ever since its construction in 1645. It was beautiful seeing the town lit up at night and to be able to get some fresh air and exercise amidst all the traveling.
In Pisa, we visited the Cathedral Complex for the first half of the day (yes, this included the famous leaning tower). Believe it or not, Pisa felt more touristy than Rome. It is a very tiny and congested town where nearly everything felt like a tourist trap. The Camposanto (image below) was a great escape from the craziness. There, we sketched for some time and got to see art work being restored that was destroyed during World War II.
The last stop of the trip was a private tour at Rocca di Frassinello at Gavorrano (designed by Renzo Piano). Between the drive through the valley and the view from the rooftop of the wine estate, I couldn’t believe how breathtaking the scenery was. After the tour, we got to taste a few of the wines and were able to see the sun set before heading home. By the end of the trip, we were all exhausted after seeing so many sites and ready to get back to Roma. I always find it funny how field trips change my perspective on Roma; in the beginning, I can’t wait to get out of the city and take a break from all the craziness, but by the end, I feel like my apartment is my home away from home, and I am instantly welcomed by loud sirens and familiar activities.
