September 4th we docked in Civitavecchia, near Rome. Since we have been to Rome and spent some time there a few years ago, we decided to go along the coast to Tarquinia. This is a historic town near some Etruscan Ruins and tombs. We only spent a few hours in Tarquinia and then headed back to the ship by local bus.

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A restaurant in Tarquinia. We sampled the gelato. There is nothing like it here in the U.S. We dream of returning to Italy for the best gelato in the world.

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September 5 , we docked in Livorno, Italy and got an early morning start for an eleven hour tour of the Tuscan countryside and lunch in the San Gimignano area. Here is a fortress around the town of San Gimignano.

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Thirteen towers dominate San Gimignano's skyline. Of the original 72 Medieval towers, only 14 remain and only one is open to the public. The town has narrow streets and a large Piazza.

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The towers were built by noble families in the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was very prosperous.( It was on the main pilgrim route from northern Europe to Rome). The richest families built the tallest towers. The Piazza della Cisterna is named after the well in its center and is the heart of the town.

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The Palazzo del Popolo houses the council chamber of the town hall.

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The church in the piazza in San Gimignano

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One of the towers rises into a blue sky.

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San Gimignano's town hall and two towers.

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A narrow street in San Gimignano.

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I liked the rows of shutters on this building

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Windows - San Gimignano, Italy - I like the line up of windows and the fact that one is closed. It ads a bit of mystery.

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A door in San Gimignano

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A door in San Gimignano

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The view from San Gimignano

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Vinyards in San Gimignano

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Looking out over the Tuscan countryside

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Another angle on the view

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Sue standing near a wall on the edge of the town in San Gimignano

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Looking out from San Gimignano

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We travel north of the town of San Gimignano a short way to have lunch at a winery just north of Ulignano, Tenuta Torciano. It was founded in 1720 and is still run by a grandson. The family lives on the property here but owns many vineyards all around the area.

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The owner is describing how wine goes with food and neither should overpower the other.

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Jack is tasting the antipasto: brochetta, salami, ham, cheeses, olives, served with a red wine.

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Antipasto is followed by a baked vegetable mixture with olive oil over bread. Then roast pork. We had a different wine with each course. From the rosy glow on our faces, you can tell we enjoyed the wine.

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He keeps saying, "What are you doing?" when people drink water. He says we must drink only wine. From his expression, you can tell he was quite funny.

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Dessert is biscotti dipped in a sweet wine.

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He says the special way to eat it is to ask a young lady to take a bite, then kiss her when she puckers up. He sneaks this one in on an unsuspecting young lady in our group.

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