Sienna

If Florence is a symbol of the Renaissance, Sienna, located 70 km south of Florence, is a typical example of a Gothic city. Built in the 12th century on a hill and surrounded by powerful fortifications, the city is almost untouched by time. Legend has it that the brothers Askio and Senio, Rem children, fleeing the persecution of Romulus, hid in this Tuscan hill, where the city of Sienna was later found. Entry of tourists to the town by car is forbidden, so the city can be visited only by walking.

What to see

• Torre del Mangia or tower “amateur eat” (mangiare — there), received its name “tower” from Giovanni Duccio — the first of its caretakers, who spent all income feasting in the taverns of the city, for which the people of Sienna called him “mangiaguadagni” (eat up earnings).

• Municipal Museum (Museo Civico)

• Sienna Cathedral (Duomo di Sienna)

• The complex of Santa Maria della Scala (Spedale di Santa Maria della Scala)

• Museo Duomo (Museo dell “Opera Metropolitana del Duomo”)

VINCI

Vinci is a small town of Medieval origin, birthplace of the great Leonardo da Vinci, where everything is steeped in the magic of his spirit. In the centre of the town stands the Castle of the Counts Guidi (Castello dei Conti Guidi), built around the year 1000 and surrounded by high strong walls. It is known as the “lock-ship” because of its contours shaped like a sailboat and two towers reminiscent of the mast.

The Castle Guidi (13c) is the famous Leonardo Museum (Museo Leonardiano), where you can see models of various ingenious mechanisms, original paintings by Leonardo, the tools of the time and rare manuscripts.

CHIANTI

Once in Tuscany be sure to visit the Chianti region. The whole area is engaged in the cultivation of grape varieties which produce Chianti (red — Sangiovese and Canaiolo, white — Malvasia and Trebbiano) and the production of olive oil of superior quality. Each manufacturer creates its own unique Chianti. There are many, but only the labels with the inscription Chianti DOCG means controlled high quality. The best wines of Chianti are Chianti, Chianti Classico, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Superiore, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino e Vernaccia di San Gimignano. The road from Florence to Sienna is called — the road of Chianti. On the way are lined lots of castles, many of which operate as small hotels where you can stay for the night. Just south of Sienna is the small town of Montalcino, famous for being the home to the eminent Brunello, well known to true wine lovers.