Tuscany, Day Two: San Gimignano and Volterra

I know it's a tourist hotspot on a hilltop in the heart of Tuscany, but the medieval town of San Gimignano continues to be one of my favorites. It's a medieval Manhattan of sorts - though only a handful of it's ancient towers remain.  (There were almost 60 stone towers in the town at one point in it's history!)  The narrow alleyways, stone arches, and sweeping views of farmland and vineyards are charming and welcoming and endearing...even if you're sharing them with a few hundred other tourists!

Truth be told, the thing I like best about San Gimignano is the park and playground just outside the town.  We packed some good old fashioned p,b&j's for the kids, grabbed some Italian staples at the market for Josh and I and enjoyed a happy picnic with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.  It was wonderful!

No day of sightseeing is complete without a gelato...or two!

More towers in Volterra.

Please excuse the flyaways!

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the nicest things about all the little hill towns is that they all have lovely little green spaces with playgrounds.  This was the view from the playground in Volterra.

Classic Greek amphitheater on the edge of the city - guess people have been enjoying these views for a long time!