Radda in Chianti

We all agreed today would be a quiet day, still getting used to the time difference and a little sleep deprivation. We drove back into Siena which is south from Poggiarello-Ripa. Rick Steeves calls Siena the medieval heart and soul of Italy. A beautiful city with a mix of modern and 14th-17th century medieval brick buildings, including the Torre del Mangia in the Piazza del Campo. The Piazza hosts the Palio twice a year. Quoting from the Palio website - “The Palio is a historical secular tradition strictly connected with the origin of the Contradas of Siena (districts into which the town is divided). The Contradas are spectacular agonistic institutions each having their own government, oratory, coat of arms, appellations, sometimes titles of nobility, emblems and colours, official representatives, festivities, patron Saints, with protectors, delimited territories and population which consist of all those people who were born or live within the topographic limits of the district, according to the proclamation issued by Violante Beatrice of Bavaria on January 7, 1730, at that time, Governess of the town.” We saw many of the flags still hanging from windows and buildings and watched a very exciting film from the last Palio, thousands of people in the Piazza with 10 horses and riders racing for the honour of their Contradas. Lunch outdoors in the Piazza, more shopping, taste tastings (and buying) of Limoncello, olive oils and Limoncello cookies before the obligatory gelato to finish the day. Another quick grocery stop and back to the villa where we never had dinner, still full from our lunch but had a rousing game of Five Crowns before calling it a night. Photos include pictures of the Duomo (cathedral) but will be visiting the Duomo for a longer look on Thursday so more about that later. On a personal note I was able to stop in at the chapel across from the Cathedral and light a candle in memory of my Dad, gone 2 years ago today. Can’t think of a more beautiful place to remember him by.Read more