La Spezia to Siena

Another day traveling on the train. Only a 3 hour trip, but 2 changes of train - one with only a 10 minute change over time. It all went smoothly and we arrived in Siena by about 2pm. We had booked rooms at Palazzo Bruchi, which looked like a great old building in the old city - and it lived up to our expectations. You enter it via a small door set into a big old pair of wooden doors, and go through to find yourself in a large lobby/ carriage yard. Steps lead off to the left, but immediately ahead is a large archway opening onto a courtyard overlooking a green valley and the hills of Tuscany. Our rooms were to the side of this courtyard, with leafy views. Large, clean rooms with books and brochures and even tea and coffee making facilities. We were very happy.

After a rest we set off to explore Siena, and we loved it. A medieval town full of life - there are even more students here than tourists, so there is a vitality and 'realness' whic we have found lacking in some towns, which have been over-run with tourists.

We wandered through the Campo, and found ourselves at the Duomo in the late afternoon. We decided to have a quick look - unprepared for the amazing experience about to unfold. This cathedral is completely full of treasures - marble inlaid floors showing beautiful pictorial scenes, frescoes on the walls and ceilings, a beautiful painted dome, an amazing pulpit all made out of carved stone, supported by 4 lions, and also a library that had 15th century manuscripts all around the room and beautiful paintings. We staggered out of there overwhelmed by all the beautiful things we had seen.

Back to the hotel in time to meet the Verweys for tea. Our hotellier recommended a restaurant that served truffles and mushrooms this time of the year. We went there but unfortunately there were no truffles - Michael and I shared a delicious taglietelli with mushrooms, followed by a small steak with a mushroom which was superb.