Tuscany Adventures

[GMP62]

Just beautiful! Thanks for taking us all along on your Italian tour…grazie!

 

[cec1]

Sienna is just a knockout!View attachment 69166View attachment 69167View attachment 69168View attachment 69169View attachment 69170View attachment 69171

I saw these photos and thought, "Palio!" -- haven't been to Sienna, but feel that I know it (& its famed horse race) from years spent in the race's namesake Manhattan bar / restaurant.

NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: MIDTOWN; A Restaurant Says Ciao, but a Mural Is Forever (Published 2002)

Equitable Life Assurance Society reassures patrons that, while Palio restaurant on West 51st Street near Seventh Avenue has closed, huge, colorful, wrap-around mural of horse race painted in 1985 by Italian artist Sandro Chia will remain when another restaurant reopens in its place; photo (M)

www.nytimes.com

The horse race occurs 2x/year, including a date in August . . . any chance that you can see it?

 

[LuckyKid2]

We spent a week on that coast a few years ago, staying in Levanto just north of the 5 towns. Took ferries, trains, and feet to get to all 5. Amazing place which I hope to get back to soon.

 

[Jim Kelly-Evans]

I saw these photos and thought, "Palio!" -- haven't been to Sienna, but feel that I know it (& its famed horse race) from years spent in the race's namesake Manhattan bar / restaurant.

NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: MIDTOWN; A Restaurant Says Ciao, but a Mural Is Forever (Published 2002)

Equitable Life Assurance Society reassures patrons that, while Palio restaurant on West 51st Street near Seventh Avenue has closed, huge, colorful, wrap-around mural of horse race painted in 1985 by Italian artist Sandro Chia will remain when another restaurant reopens in its place; photo (M)

www.nytimes.com

The horse race occurs 2x/year, including a date in August . . . any chance that you can see it?

I think the horses were running the morning we got there but we were not able to see a race.

 

[Jim A]

I saw these photos and thought, "Palio!" -- haven't been to Sienna, but feel that I know it (& its famed horse race) from years spent in the race's namesake Manhattan bar / restaurant.

NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: MIDTOWN; A Restaurant Says Ciao, but a Mural Is Forever (Published 2002)

Equitable Life Assurance Society reassures patrons that, while Palio restaurant on West 51st Street near Seventh Avenue has closed, huge, colorful, wrap-around mural of horse race painted in 1985 by Italian artist Sandro Chia will remain when another restaurant reopens in its place; photo (M)

www.nytimes.com

The horse race occurs 2x/year, including a date in August . . . any chance that you can see it?

We were there just before the July 2nd race and the "track" was set up then as well.

There is a cool documentary on it. We watched it a few years ago on Netflix. Not sure where you can see it now but I'm sure it's easy to find. It's all about how important it is and the various neighborhoods and of course the cheating and corruption!!!

the trailer:

 

[amyb]

NASCAR on horseback.

 

[cec1]

We were there just before the July 2nd race and the "track" was set up then as well.

There is a cool documentary on it. We watched it a few years ago on Netflix. Not sure where you can see it now but I'm sure it's easy to find. It's all about how important it is and the various neighborhoods and of course the cheating and corruption!!!

the trailer:

I haven’t seen the documentary yet, but as one of the titles says, “Only One Thing Matters.” As it was explained to me when I used to spend time at New York’s “Palio,” the thing that most mattered was the horse. — i.e., the race’s winner could be a riderless horse, as part of the race involves riders — intentionally or accidentally — knocking one another off their mounts during the race. A pretty dangerous “sport!”

 

[davesmom]

OMG, these photos and travelogue are amazing! I'm feeling so much "amore" for your fabulous trip and all the work it took to put it together! Some of your places are familiar to us but others are not; I'd really like to see the Palio in Siena!! You both look fantastic and very "Italiano". Thank you for sharing this wonderful trip

 

[jamiem4]

Gorgeous!

Dan and I are in Tuscany, Italy for a couple of weeks. The last time Dan and I were in Pisa about 30 years ago the Leaning Tower was closed to tourists. Since that time the foundation has been reinforced and the angle of tilt slightly lessened. It is now open again and Jim climbed the almost 300 steps to the top of the world famous campanile. Not bad for a 75 year old with an aging artificial aortic heart valve and two replacement knees!View attachment 69145View attachment 69146View attachment 69147View attachment 69148View attachment 69149View attachment 69150

 

[NancySC]

Tuscany came to me last week in the form of a well packed & protected 10 bottles of wine & 2 of olio from a winery I visited in October 2023 as part of a group of 12 wine adventurers to many wonderful towns & wineries for just shy of 2 weeks...this new box came from Poggio Stenti.

 

[Faye]

Hi all,
Any suggestions on where to stay in or around Montepulciano. I’ve looked at Lupaia and Poggio Alla Sala. Any opinions on these appreciated as well.

We will be stopping for a few nights 2/3 en route from Monterosso to Civittavecchia( going on a cruise thereafter).
Looking at late spring 2026.
Thank you.