SAN GIMIGNANO: I saw this town in a movie and wanted to see it in real life. I'd heard both good and bad about it, but I loved it here. The views alone were worth the trip; incredible! The city is renowned for its towers; from a distance when you're coming in on the bus, it really does look like a modern city of skyscrapers!

The entrance to the medieval city of San Gimignano: quite touristy but not overwhelmingly so, and in an amazingly beautiful area of Tuscany

The "main street" of the town, I love the buildings. You can see one of the towers in the background

The cathedral of San Gimignano: the strictest church I've been in! I had my jacket to cover my shoulders, expecting that I would not be allowed in with bare shoulders. Fair enough, and common in most churches in Italy. However, I had pants on that just covered my knees (which normally would be fine): how dare I expose myself in such a way? Indecent!! I was made to wear one of those horrific smock things that makes a potato sack look like haute couture; it covered my entire arm's length, and came to the floor! No wandering priest's eyes here, all they'd see would be an ugly blue blob! At least I wasn't the only one though, and the frescoes inside were stunning. I was a bit offended though that my shins could be seen as unseemly. Nothing wrong with my shins!

After my internal rant at the cathedral, I climbed... guess what? Another tower! Told you I'm now an expert. This was the Torre Grossa (Great Tower), the tallest one in San Gimignano. Beautiful views like this one

The square below

Looking out over the city

I love it!

Al fresco patio dining! Imagine a hot summer's evening, you want to have a barbecue outside, except your backyard is the top of your tower house! How cool!

The Sala di Consiglio in the Palazzo Comunale del Podestà: this is where Dante Alighieri addressed the locals in 1299, trying to get them to support the Guelphs. (Guelphs were in support of the Pope, their opponents the Ghibellines supported the Emperor)

Just a pretty scene

The 15th century cloister of the Chiesa di San Agostino

This tree was huge!!

To finish my day I walked along the outside of the old city walls; the whole of the surrounding countryside is stunning. Postcard Tuscany, and I always thought it was hype!