Venizia - to Firenze - to Torreta di SienaOct 6, 2006
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Hotel Al Piave Cafe
Rialto Bridge
Renee on Rialto Bridge
| Dale update: Posting some more pictures from yesterday (we took a lot!)... We got up early for a last morning in Venizia prior to our morning departure via Train to Firenze (Florence). Plan was to take a run - then we remembered we'd have trouble getting back in the Hotel - so opted for Venizia Boot Camp in the room. After our workout, headed down to landing to check out the strike rumor - and found that it was true - they were closing the ticket booth at the San Zacarria as we walked up @ 7.15am. We started making a 'walking contingency' plan as we headed back to the hotel. We asked the owner when we got back about the timing of the strikes - and he advised us to walk to the Rialto stop & we should be 'ok' if we made it by 8.30am. And, if they really weren't running, we'd have time to walk through town to the San Lucia station. It was a challenge to get our rolling duffels through town and across all the bridges and walkways (many were steps), but we made it to the Rialto stop, on to the Vaparetto and made it to the Verrovia stop and the San Lucia station. Took the short ride to the Mestre station and then on to Firenze station (via Refredi). From there took a shuttle to inner-city (SMN - Santa Maria Novella) Stazione. Now, needed to walk to the Auto Europe office to pickup our car... The city of Florence has steps...lotsa steps...I mean mille, mille steps (remember the rollie duffels?)... We finally found the office and picked up a car to use for the rest of the trip in Italy. We hit the road and were in Torrita di Sienna at the Rezidenza d'Art in a few more hours. We checked in with Francesca & Biaggi (the artiste, Anna Izzo's - http://www.annaizzoartdesign.com - daughter and husband). We got directions to a local market for goodies and a local area map...and in 10 minutes we were on the road to see the sights - first stop - Montepulciano! Beautiful town @ dusk - took many pics and enjoyed wine on the west side of town behind the Duomo - then explored and watched sunset before having a glass of wine on the Via Gracciano Del Corso. Headed back to Torrita di Siena for dinner at a restaurant recommended by the hotel - Conte Matto (in Trequanda to the West - http://www.contematto.it/eng/index.php) and after 20 min gave up the search... Getting late and this is a small town. After a frantic search, found Pizzeria Il Timone! Great pizza (ok, we were desperate - it was good and hot). Night, night. |
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