Swirls of mist - a quiet day exploring the town (5 of 10)

We had a remarkable day spent roaming the medieval maze of narrow laneways, that we could see from the hotel windows. We met only local inhabitants as the majority of tourists strolled up Via San Giovanni, entering first the Piazza del Duomo, then moving on for a gelato in the Piazza della Cisterna, before vanishing down San Matteo.

I spent some time writing in my journal while staring out the window. A little later I had an interval downstairs at the Caffeteria dell’Olmo, having yet another delicious cappuccino and pastry.

You feel like you own the town when you are staying in La Cisterna, in a room with enormous picture windows overlooking the Tuscan countryside – a very wide balcony, French doors opening out on one side of the room with a view of several towers that can be seen without ever getting off your bed. The views from the terrace are captivating. You can see far off, distant hill towns. You can look down onto other terraces and say hello to nearby residents hanging out their washing or feeding their cats. Everything is fascinating. I could look for hours.

What a day! Fog and mist swirling – feeling transported back in time while staying in a thirteenth century palace.



Via San Giovanni, San Gimignano