Our Week in Tuscany
with Ray and Carolyn

Tuscany Countryside

Our location near San Gimignano was ideal as far as seeing some of the other towns and willages of the area. Certaldo, Gambassi, Poggibonsi, Volterra, Castelflorentino and others were nearby.

A drive along the uncrowded roads was very pleasant. We were not in any hurry so we were able to get a good look at the countryside.

We had a nice visit to Gambassi. It was almost as if we were the only tourists there.

Strolling along the narrow streets we were able to get glimpses of everyday life.

This was another of Tuscany's hilltop towns, and you could see San Gimignano sitting on its hilltop.

This is a shot from the same spot as the one above. You can see San Gimignano in the distance.

The park in Gambassi offered a chance for us to stroll about.

These senior citizens of Gambassi were enjoying a late afternoon visit in the park. I later asked and got permission to take a photo of the three ladies. I was using a digital camera, so I was able to show them the results.

Lynda took a picture while I was showing the shot to the ladies.

We sat in this small square and looked around as parents and grandparents watched children play.

One afternoon we drove over to Volterra.

We spent a few minutes visiting the cathedral and baptistry at Volterra, then did a little shopping in the city.

The font and altar in the Baptistry are truly works of art.

Artistic doors have an appeal for Lynda and she usually photographs several as we travel around.

Volterra is noted for its alabaster. We made some purchases in this shop. I bought a small alabaster rooster. Lynda got a bracelet.

This clock tower has Pinocchio sitting on the bell. The author of The Adventures of Pinocchio, Carlo Lorenzini aka C. Collodi, lived in Tuscany.

As we were driving in the car along the road from Volterra, we could hear the bells of these sheep before we saw them.