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 that's just a few km's from beautiful historic town San Gimignano.
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. Oh have I mentioned the roads, clearly the Roman's bypassed Tuscany, as every road seems to be a curve fest, it seems every road is a pleasure to ride! Anyway, after a week chilling and adventuring we headed further south for a couple of nights of fine wines and dining at Villa Granzianella.
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
Volterre
Café life!
Volterre
Volterre
Roman Theatre Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
San Gimignano
San Gimignano
San Gimignano
San Gimignano
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
San Gimignano
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
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Somewhere in the Chianti Hills
Somewhere in the Chianti Hills
Somewhere in the Chianti Hills
Tenuta Il Palagio Farm Shop - if you know, then you know!! Sadly the Resturant was closed!
Greve in Chianti
Greve in Chianti
Greve in Chianti
Apero Time
Arezzo
Aresso
Arezzo
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
Parading back down the hill
Classic Lambretta
Couple of classic Honda's
Volterre
Volterre
Lunch in Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
Volterre
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
Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni
Moto Parking in Sienna! It kinda fits!!
Sienna
Torre del Mangia on Piazza Campo, 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
Sienna
Sienna
Sienna
Sienna
Sienna
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
Evening wander around 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!
Camera kit: - Canon EOS M6 + EF-M 22mm & EF85mm (with adapter) Lens; DJI Mini 3 Pro drone, and an old iPhone.