They also have an incredible Gothic Cathedral, similar to the one in Florence with the sharp contrast of white and dark green marble.
In the main square there was a small stand selling deep fried rice balls. They came out of the oil in huge, dripping, golden masses, and were sliced into smaller pieces with a large knife. I didn't have a chance to try them (had to run for the bus for the first time that day) but everyone said they were delicious - much like donuts.
For lunch, we stopped at an organic vineyard run by a family. They produce grapes for wine, olive oil, wheat for pasta, a heritage breed of Tuscan cattle, and other fruit and vegetables.
We were treated to fresh mozzarella with roasted potatoes...
...pasta with a light tomato sauce and delicious cheese (with the heirloom beef for meat-eaters)...
...and for dessert, cantucci, which is the actual name for what we usually call biscotti - biscotti just means cookie. (I learned this when I asked for some in a store, and the woman held up another kind of cookie. I said "No, biscotti!"She laughed.)
They were served with a sweet dessert wine called Vin Santo - Holy Wine. People usually eat the cookies dipped in the wine. Kind of unusual, but not bad.
Our next stop was San Gimignano, a tiny walled city on a hill,
overlooking the Tuscan countryside.
You could walk across it in about five minutes through the narrow, winding streets.
It is also home to the World Gelato Champion, offering flavors like bilberry and saffron.
I tried the saffron and the hazelnut flavors - the saffron flavor was lacking in intensity but deliciously creamy, and the hazelnut - perfect!
The last stop was Pisa, home to the famous Leaning Tower.
It is quite lovely, constructed of pale white stones and almost glowing in the late afternoon sun.
I already can't wait to come back to Italy!
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