Day 21 – Tuscany Bike Ride

57 kms travelled today – 1070 elevation gain

Todays journey takes us from Buonconvento to Sienna.

Last night we stayed in a fabulous farm stay hotel – about 4 kms out of town – nothing around.

A great evening meal in the resturant.

An early start to see what the day will bring.

This cycling tour is mainly along roads – secondary roads – so are more quite.

Our first stop is Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore (Abbey). Miles from anywhere – perched on the topped of a hill – with beautiful views of the valleys below.

Abbey – run by the monks – with beautiful church and fresco painted walls. They also had a wine cellar – the cellar master was just opening up – we were invited to look around the cellar while he opened the passage from the Abbey to the Cellar. I am guessing an Abbey short cut.

We stop at Asciano – your typical italian country town – lots of quaint buildings – a cental piazza – a church with a large bell tower – Asciano – bigger than some of the smaller towns.

Our final stop of the day – Siena.

Traffic getting heavier – so we will need to negotiate our way to our hotel. We have to go on a few roads with quite heavy traffic.

Sienna is a really large city – an old city – so cars and trucks are restricted in the cenral 2 to 3 kms of town.

We arrive fairly late in the day – so quickly decide visit the city duomo.

Insides of Duomos are starting to blurr – but L & R agree that this is the best we have seen – lets see what Rome has to offer.

We visit the central square, with its extremly large town hall tower.

This square ‘il Campo’ is the site of the famous Siena bare back horse race – held for many centuries – three times

around large square – 60,000 people in attendance.