John Coster Photography

A couple of weeks in the heart of Tuscany allowed us a taste of the culture, history, cuisine and fine wines. Tuscany also has more than its fair share of fabulous roads to ride.

We based ourselves at Casa di Paolo, a beautiful old farm house surrounded by olive groves and vineyards that has been sympathetically converted to provide a few self catering holiday apartments.

Paolo was most helpful with recommendations of local restaurants and offered to cook us a fabulous meal one evening. There's also a wonderful honesty bar for proper coffee in the morning and nice local wines and beers in the evening, what more does one want?

From here we enjoyed days out exploring and visited San Gimignano, Voltaire, Arezzo, Siena and smaller villages. After a week chilling and adventuring we headed further south for a couple of nights of fine wines and dining at Villa Granzianella.

Tuscany has left us with many wonderful memories.

Morning coffee stop at Bar Tacco 12 on the amazing SS65 heading south towards Florence.

Restaurant Zocchi on the SS65 - amazing find for lunch!

Rather than ride around Florence, I decided to ride through the middle and enjoy a quick stop on the Piazza Michelangelo and enjoy the view

Florence

Morning Coffee at Casa d'Paolo

Exploring on foot

Rain showers

Actually a biblical downpour! Thankfully it only lasted a little while!

Apero time! Yes, this is a frequent occurrence!!

Volterre

Café life!

Volterre

Roman Theatre Volterre

Volterre

San Gimignano

Artists tool's in The Parco della Rocca, San Gimignano

View from the walls of the Parco della Rocca, San Gimignano

I guess she said yes!!!

San Gimignano

'Moto Parking' on the Piazzale Martiri di Montemaggio, San Gimignano

Apero Time!

San Gimignano

I couldn't resist grabbing a shot of the bike with a sunset soaked San Gimignano as a backdrop!

The SR429 in the Val d'Elsa between Poggibonsi and Castellina in Chianti is just an amazing road - a curve fest through stunning scenery!

Castellina in Chianti

Somewhere in the Chianti Hills

Tenuta Il Palagio Farm Shop - if you know, then you know!! Sadly the Resturant was closed!

Greve in Chianti

Apero Time

Arezzo

Aresso

Arezzo

Café life in Arezzo

Street life in Arezzo

Arezzo

No idea what she's explaining, but he didn't run away!

Arezzo

Motor Sport Sunday - Moto Club Volterre's annual hill climb sprint!

Side car action from Volterre

Parading back down the hill

Classic Lambretta

Couple of classic Honda's

Volterre

Lunch in Volterre

Volterre

Leaving Volterre on the SS 68 di Val Cecina

The SS 68 di Val Cecina carves a fabulous route through the countryside

Just another view!

Monteriggioni

Moto Parking in Sienna! It kinda fits!!

Sienna

Torre del Mangia on Piazza Campo, Sienna

Water fountain on Piazza del

A view into the medieval square famous for hosting the Palio horse race.

Window reflections in Sienna

Sienna

What is not to like, a glorious Tuscan sunset, a motorcycle and some romance!

Sunset at San Gimignano

Another RT image!

View from San Gimignano

Evening wander around San Gimignano

Some images from and around Casa di Paolo's charmed farmhouse.

Paolo's farmhouse is so peaceful, tucked away among Vineyards and Olive Groves some 2km's from the road.

surrounded by olive trees...

and vines...

and amazing views

Rustic features are everywhere.

Home pressed Oil

The pool is the perfect anytime the day.

mostly we took advantage of it's refreshing powers at the end of the day!

Dramatic evening skies too!

Eventually our time at Casa d'Paolo's came to an end and we had to leave!

Moving further south, we visited the walled hill top town of Montalcino; Bagno Vignoni, a small village famous for its natural hot springs and spa's; rode through the postcard Val d'Orcia before arriving at our final destination Villa Grazianella and the wine estate of Fattoria Del Cerro (Farmhouse on the Hill) for a week of amazing food and wine.