Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Last Week in Siena

After coming back from Sicily we realized how little we had left on our Italian adventure. The time had really flown by. I only had one week left in my class, and we had so much to see still in Siena. We decided to fully take advantage of our last weeks days and nights in Siena.

Matt met me almost everyday in Piazza del Campo where we would walk and get lunch and then begin to explore the city. We were able to see so many cool buildings and hidden treasures of Siena. Almost every night we went back into the city for gelato (as if we needed an excuse to eat gelato!) and to explore all the fun events at night. Siena was also having its Summer Jazz Festival so we went to that a few nights. The first time it was on the grounds of a convent that overlooks Siena, and the second time it was in the old Medici Fortress that was built during the Renaissance. Once we met the girls after we had pizza at our local pizzeria and went to the Jazz festival by this local church that we had discovered earlier that day. The music was great to listen to and the venue was really cool! After we were there for around thirty minutes we went to a party in one of the Contradas. It was funny because they had all ages there, a game from the middle ages was being played, dancing, and much more. We had fun dancing the night away with our friends.

During our last week in Siena we went to the Duomo in Siena. It was so beautiful. It was probably my favorite Duomo we went to in Italy. We also went to the tower of the Duomo. It was the most beautiful view of the city of Siena and the surrounding Tuscan countryside. There is so many beautiful things in Siena. It is truly the most beautiful city I have ever seen.

Matt's favorite store in Siena (It is full of beautiful ties)

Our favorite Pizza Place

 Us on top of the Duomo tower in Siena
In front of the Church in Siena

 
On one of our last nights in Siena we went to another Oca Contrada dinner with an adorable lady in the branch, and our friend Simone. It was such a beautiful night and the food was yummy. The first course was a very good pasta and for the second course we had rosted duck and roast potatoes. We laughed and talked in Italian with everyone the entire night. It was so much fun. Matt and Simone did say that they shouldn't have gone back for huge seconds on the pasta because the second course was so massive! I really do miss the branch in Siena.

 The view of Siena from the Oca Contrada's gardens (where we ate the dinner)
Oca contrada Dinner
During our last week in Siena we visited San Gimignano. It was such a cute little town. It is known for all of its towers. We walked throughout the adorable city in and out of shops and we eventually made it to the worlds best gelato place. It won the prize for worlds best gelato, so we had to go back twice. We loved the view of Tuscany. We also loved being in such an adorable Tuscan city.


Worlds best Gelato

We already miss Siena and wish we could be back.