San Gimignano, Siena and Monteriggioni

From our base in Florence we took a day trip that encompassed San Gimignano, Siena, a Tuscan winery and the small hilltop fort-town of Monteriggioni.

San Gimignano is a small medieval town famous for its 13 towers. Siena is best known for the bareback horse race around the Piazza Del Campo known as the Palio. Jockeys represent each of Sienas 17 districts and the winners' colours are displayed throughout the town for the year following the win.

6. San Gimignano, Siena and Monteriggioni

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=San+Gimignano,+Italy&hl=en&ll=43.396067,11.220474&spn=0.24697,0.676346&sll=33.776193,-118.162996&sspn=0.008829,0.021136&vpsrc=6&hnear=San+Gimignano+Sienna,+Tuscany,+Italy&t=m&z=11

 Interesting scenery on the drive out of Florence

 Entrance to San Gimignano

 Narrow streets, towers and crazy cyclists.

 San Gimignano

 Collegiata - 11th Century church in San Gimignano

Views across the surrounding countryside from San Gimignano

 Views from the winery we visited

 Mmm wine tasting

 Piazza del Campo in Siena

 Piazza del Campo 

 Tower of the Duomo of Siena

A section of a planned expansion of the Duomo that was never completed

 Inside the Duomo

 Baptistry

 San Domenico church in Siena

Church at Monteriggioni

View across the hills from Monteriggioni