Pienza and Montepulciano

My first taste of the Tuscan sun began today. My morning started at 5:30am and as I got ready, I slammed a closet door on my forehead. Yes it hurt. My excuse was because it was so early. I now have a bump on my forehead lol. On the brighter side...After hoping that I wouldn't rain today,  it didn't!!! It did while we were on our bus but after that... not at all! Sunny and a bit windy was the new weather forecast. This trip was pretty sweet in the sense that it was so different than the other trips that I've taken. Everywhere else I've been had the same winding streets and tourists running through traffic. This place was just what a I hoped for. Peaceful, quiet and full of color. Our first stop: Pienza!

Pienza is this little city that started off as a pretty as poop, but after Pope Pius II decided to work with an architect named Bernardo Rossellino, they soon made the city really nice. I believe it took them 4 years but it was well worth it I'm sure. I know that a lot of things weren't fully completed to the degree it was intended to be made in but so far, it's still intact. There is a duomo that was built upon weak foundations and unfortunately that building is now cracked and looks like it's going to crumble off. I'm sure the city do what they can to keep it together. As for the rest of the city, it has this symmetry to it that is based on a grid. You can never really get lost in this city. Everything leads back to the center which is also the palace where Pope Pius II's fam bam lived until 1968.  Even decor on all these massive buildings are symmetrical! Here are some other things that stood out to me in this little city...

This was the first picture perfect spot we got to see and I think I might have been the only one to notice this heart that was randomly there on the ledge. I think it started off the photo spree very well. 

This bench definitely caught my eyes. I love the orange uneven stones that make up this wall. The colors are so vivid and the turquoise off the side of this old bench worked so well. The bench had some writing on it and it really stood out to me. I felt the stories that had been told and the memories that were made here. 

Check out these walls. These types of walls always blow me away. I feel like a painter just took a palette knife and scraped away at their painting. 

The perspective from the clouds blew me away. This city really does draw you in for such a tiny place.

I decided to take a pic of these three older men. There really weren't that many people out and about because of the cold but I felt fortunately to be able to see them joke and laugh. I know it sounds silly but it's because I get to see how they interact everyday. I hear that when it's warmer, the older men sit on one side of the street and the women on the other as they chat away all day and enjoy each other's company.

Our next stop was a quick 5 minute one where our guide took us into the Tempio di San Biagio. It looks way bigger outside. Inside is kind of cool though. It's perfectly symmetrical and would be perfect for a wedding.. everyone would be able to see the whole thing!

The next and last destination was Montepulciano! Yet another small city that didn't have too much or too many people out but it was still awesome to see. Apparently this is where "new moon" was filmed. I don't really have an interest in this film but for those of you that do, the movie was made here! 

Just a little view down the mountain =]

After walking around for a bit we found out where we'd be doing wine tasting. The wine was great, the cellar totally smelled of wine because some oak barrels were being scraped for residue, and the cheese they gave us was delicious. One cheese was aged on Laurel leaves, another on spices (my favorite one), and another on oak ashes. They also made olive oil and OMG it was fantastic with the bread and salami they gave us. I believe that with their olive oil they mixed dried chilies, garlic, italian parsley and some salt. Try it at home! It's addicting. Apparently this wine cellar was supposed to be in New Moon but after saying no to moving out all of their wine barrels, they regretted not saying yes. Especially when they found out what movie was being filmed. The bar down the street was where it was filmed instead. bummmerrr. They don't like to talk about it...

This cat was wandering around by us as we were leaving the wine cellar. It sure was chill for being around a bunch of strangers. I'm personally a dog person but I couldn't help but take a picture of this Montepulcianian.

After wine tasting, we had to hike up to the top of Montepulciano. We did stop to check out how high these building go up. Our guide told us about how many parts of this city were build just on top of another thing. There are layers and layers in this city and even in the wine cellars. Things are always being added to fit as if they had been there forever. 

The two apartments above the walkway were added later on. Can you tell? lol

The hike up to the top was a bit tiring but after we were told what the old men do in hot August we were like.. oh we're out of shape lol. During the hot summer days of August, the older men of this city race and roll up wine barrels to the top of Montepulciano... WOW is what I have to say to that. Either way, we made it ! (same route as those in New Moon ran up in the movie) After reaching the top we came back down and proceeded to our lovely lunch that was a 4 course meal and dessert. It was homemade from the same family that owned the wine cellar. Lunch was great and we were all ready to roll back down to the bus afterwards. Needless to say, we all basically napped on the way back. I did get a few shots though and they're all on the album on facebook along with the rest of the photos!

I hope I can continue to explore the rest of Tuscany sometime soon. =D