Two Days in Tuscany

After leaving Venice, we set out for Tuscany.  We stayed in Florence...the home of David and Gelato.  Remember that story from the Bible?  :)   

We had gelato every single day of our Italian vacation :).  My favorite was Nutella gelato!

Beautiful Square in Florence

Ponte Vecchio - famous bridge in Florence.  It is lined with jewelry shops.

Statue of David!  A picture just doesn't do him justice.

Florence at night

On our second day in Tuscany, we visited several different towns.  My favorite was Siena.  I learned that the color "burnt siena" comes from the color of all of the buildings in this adorable town!  Siena is filled with so much character and life.  It is the location of a horse race that happens two times every summer.  Each neighborhood in the city has a mascot and colors assigned to it.  A handful of neighborhoods are chosen to enter horses into the race each year.  They take the race VERY seriously...the horses are even prayed over inside of the neighborhood churches on race day.  It is considered to be good luck if the horses poop in the sanctuary.  Ha!  When we visited, the horse race had just happened and the neighborhoods were still decorated in their colors. 

This is the square where the horse race happens.  They put sand down on the ground and mattresses around the corners!

This is the goose neighborhood!

Pastry Shop in Siena

Lemon Almond Cookies from the pastry shop...so tasty.

After we left Siena, we visited an organic farm where they make their own wine, grow their own olives, and raise cattle.

The vineyard at the farm.

A view of San Gimignano - the "Manhattan" of Italy. 

San Gimignano

Our last stop in Tuscany was Pisa.  Of course, we had to see the leaning tower. 

Yep, Dustin was "that guy".  :)

Next stop...ROMA!