Day 5 - La città medievale di San Gimignano e Villa Il Leccio

Thursday we traveled from Lucca to Tuscany taking in sights along the way, visiting the midevil town of San Gimignano, and having lunch at the Landi home, Il Leccio.

We made an unexpected stop in Tuscany, we visited the American WWII War Memorial.  Here about 4400 American soldiers are laid to rest, and on the monument there are another 1400 plaques representing the missing.

They all fought between Rome and the Alps.

 It meticulously maintained and quite a moving place.

San Gimignano is built on top of the high ground and it is easy to see how it could be easily defended. The views both approaching and from the high points withing the city are nothing short of breath taking.

San Gimignano is like stepping back into the 1300s,

















We strolled about the town, it is a lot to take in, these buildings have been here since the 1300s and they are still standing and being lived in.

The city is pure medieval with high views of the surrounding country side, which is quite stunning.

 Bob was getting into the Olive trees.

As you walk the streets the shops have about anything you can imagine and wild bore is a specialty.

The boyz decided to climb the biggest tower, at one time there were over 70 towers in this small town, 15 remain today.  Towers were a symbol of family status.

 The view from the top of the tower.

The many roofs of San Gimignono.

The market was in session (white tents) and the girls were down there...shopping...better get back.

Fabrizio treated us all to a Gelatto, it was really really good.

Of course before leaving the city we had to stop for Cappucino, as Bob likes it "cappuccino bollente".















As we walked out of San Gimignano we just could not help taking in the views one more time.

From San Gimignano we headed for a special lunch at a place called Villa Il Leccio. This is a country home that has been in the Landi family for over nine generations, they even remained here during the Nazi occupation as servants to the Nazi's that took it over. The story told by the current family member, Giada, running the place is quite captivating.

This is Giada, she tells the story of her family, and how at one time this mansion was a summer place for her family of immense wealth, now she and her family live in the servant quarters and run it as a historical site and business to keep the home in the family. Nearly everything in the home is original, from the 13th and 14th century, it is just amazing, from the leather covered walls, the gold Chandeliers, furniture, paintings, etc.






We enjoyed a spectacular lunch with wine provided by Il Leccio, it included meat sauce made with wild bore, it was delicious.

After dinner Giada gave us a guided tour of the home and told her stories along the way.

The ceilings and chandelier.

Walls covered with leather.

One special room had the house and landscape painted in Fresco, this is from the 1300s, one wall has the front the other the back.  (photo bomb by Eamon).

Back of house, today it is all gardens.

As we left Il Leccio, you can't help but notice all the preserved furnishings from 100s of years ago.







From Il Leccio we headed for our hotel in Florence, however Fabrizio always seem to have a surprize for us along the way, this time it was a view of the Florence lights at night.

We arrived at our hotel after a pretty long day, still full from lunch, no dinner needed....it was a good day.

We are staying in the city of Florence, just off the Arno river, a 15 min walk into the center of town.