Day Trip # 4-Pisa & Lucca

 Pisa & Lucca
(105 km- 1:30 away)
The Leaning Tower…are you ready to climb 56 meter high and 296 steps? In Pisa the Square of Miracles (La Piazza dei Miracoli) really worths all your attantion  with its Leaning Tower, the  beautiful  Baptistery, the Cathedral and the Monumental Cemetery (representing the cycle of life).The Cathedral, belonging to Pisan-Romanesque architecture, shows a stunning white-and-grey marble façade.  The interiors have been realized with white-and-black marbles instead. The popular bell tower leaning on one side. Do you know why? The ground,  too soft underneath, does not support the tower’s weight!

The best wayt to start  exploring Lucca is taking a nice 4 kilometers walk  along the old city walls overlooking the town. The city of Lucca is reach in religious buildings il Duomo, St Michael Church and more.  Carry on your visit with Piazza Dell’Anfiteatro, an oval square, where the actual buildings were built around the original Roman amphitheatre structure and the famous Torre Guinigi with  the trees at the very top of the tower. In Lucca is also home to several annual music events and manifestations that always attract people from everywhere: Summer Festival in  July. Another popular event is Lucca Comics & Games in late October/early November

Day Trip # 2-Val D’Orcia

Montalcino, Pienza & Montepulciano

(130 Km- 2:00 away from the Casale)

Montalcino, better know as the city of Brunello wine, it’s a beautiful village dominating the Val D’orcia natural park. In the 16th century, the famous architect Rossellino was commissioned by Pope Pius II to build the town. The Duomo (Cathedral), which dominates the center of the piazza, has a façade that is one of the earliest designed in the Renaissance manner.  Visiting the town wine cellars that start from the top of the hill and go all the way through it’s an amazing experience. Pienza enjoys a strategic position  dominating all the Orcia Valley with extraordinary views. Under Leon Battista Alberti in 3 years, a group of amazing and harmonious buildings were completed: the Cathedral, the Piccolomi Palace, the Town Hall, and the lovely central square. Pienza is well know for its cacio that is to say cheese! Made from sheep’s milk, you can taste the Pecorino of Pienza in local restaurants with other typical products such as wines, spices, pici (handmade pasta) and so on. Don’t forget to order pici cacio e pepe! When in Montepulciano, elegant Renaissance  city with ancient churches, charming squares and hidden corners, stop in Piazza Grande, the heart of Montepulciano, where the barrel-racing Bravio delle Botti contest is held in August every year. Take a walk through Montepulciano to view the town and its beautiful historical buildings  and enjoy heartbreaking views of the surrounding countryside vineyards producing the famous Nobile!