San Gimignano

Our walk today brought us to San Gimignano, a walled, medieval town atop a hill. When we arrived in San Miniato a couple of days earlier we chatted to a local for a while (he told us we needed to get off the bus because it was the last stop). He said the towns were on the hills for defense against attack (which we had already summised) but also the climate was better throughout the year (too hot in the valleys during summer). We were pretty hot by the time we reached our hotel. Today was a cloudless, windless 20c. It would be a tough walk during the height of summer, much of the route is open country. 

San Gimignano lost two thirds of it's population to the bubonic plague in the 14th century but the tourists are back now. It feels very special to be here. Our hotel is right in the historic centre. The tallest building in this shot.

It's the first time we have noticed Crows in Italy. A cynic might say they had been put there to enhance the medieval-ness, but they are a thing 

We saw our first snake. Just a small one, about 12 inches long at a guess, and pencil thin. He slithered across the path in front of us. After googling I can't identify it. It was gone before I could get the cameras rolling.

It was a very enjoyable walk today with plenty of eye watering vista's.

Our destination is barely visible in the distance. You can see the towers on the hill in the centre.

A local doing renditions of Dante's Divine Comedy is popular. Dante is a big deal in Italy. I didn't really have a clue but showed this picture to our waitress at dinner and asked what the guy in the red dress was doing.

Great scenery in and around town.

I also want one of these now. Ape 50.

Via Francigena is a long walk should you choose to do the whole thing