Farm Lunch Sandwiched between Sienna and San Gimignano

Post author:Gambol Adventures
Post published:November 16, 2025
Post category:How Many Grapes Does It Take to Make Chianti?
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This morning we hit the road running! George our bus driver was back and we are so happy to see him. He very good and hauling us and getting us to where we we need to go on time. Of course it helps this group is good at following directions and showing up 10 minutes before our designated leaving time.

First stop is Siena. We have a guided walking tour of Siena. Our tour guide on the street is Lisa. She is originally from Germany, but came to Italy with her husband.

There is an open air market going on in Siena on the outside of the city wall, which used to be used to protect the city when Siena and Florence were fighting until the late 15th C and Siena came under the protection of the Medicis. Today the walled area is used for open air concerts and a Jazz school during the summer.

St. Catherine in the market. St. Catherine was born in Sienna during a time when the Black Plague was running rampage in Sienna. She was a leader in her day, convincing her parents not to make her marry, joining the Dominican Third Order.

Siena is a very interesting town. It is divided into 17 districts. Each district has its own museum and church. Those living in the district are baptized twice, once in the church and the other in the district. Residents really don’t change their districts. Twice a year 10 horses are picked and the districts race each other. The districts are designated by markers on the edge of the buildings. The

The cathedral was built in the 12th Century. Siena of course wanted their cathedral to be larger than the one in Florence and when you walk up on it… WOW! Just Wow!!!

This building is across from the cathedral. It was at one time a Foundling’s Hospital. I would have been very interested in visiting the building to compare to the one we visited in London 2 years ago.

There there is the Baptistry. The Baptistry, the cathedral, and the tower are on 3 levels-. No level is open to any other level. Another interesting fact? In the bowels of the cathedral is the crypt. When the crypt was open, all the artwork that had covered the walls and none of it had been disturbed.

There may have been a trail marker left.. No markers were left where others had not previously left their own marks.

We finished our tour of Siena with a view of the square. The square where the horses race. There was not the standing room only crowd that is there for the horse races.

It was a glorious day in Siena, but now it is time to eat!!! A quick drive towards San Gimignano and a stop at Tenuto Torciano. Fernando was wonderful and some of these pictures were posted on the Facebook page. I may or may not have 4 wines coming over the next few months… So this little winery has a couple of acres of grapes growing in Prosecco Road…know what that means? Yep, you guessed it…. Tenuto makes Prosecco!