San Gimignano is highlighted as a tourist trap by Rick Steves, but Lynne's
extensive research (seen here comparing notes with a local, while the unibomber plots nearby) provided us with a wonderful self guided tour and several shopping opportunities. Once boasting about 60 towers (down to about a dozen now), the walled hilltop city (aren't they all?) threw fear into the hearts of would be attackers, but could not scare away the plague of 1348, which started a downward spiral that only tourism has relieved. We enjoyed Neapolitan pizza for lunch, but found the Vernaccia wine not to our tastes.
The views of the town from up close and at a distance are still breathtaking.
Back on the road again, we decided to skip Pisa and its one tower tourist attraction, and instead head straight to the marina outside Carrara. There will be a lot more tomorrow, but we were quite surprised to find the city used marble slabs for the port's riprap as well as sidewalks. The cast off
remnants no doubt. We then strolled to dinner for what turned out to be our first language-challenged dinner. A fresh seafood restaurant had been recommended, where English was only spoken via a traveller's dictionary used by the chef to describe tonight's offerings. My frutti di mare salad of clams, shrimp, squid, mussels and cuttlefish was fantastic! And the Chef's surprise addition of fresh anchovies cooked in white wine and lemon juice ... Let's just say it is the only time I have ever enjoyed an anchovy. Lynne was less than impressed ...
Tomorrow, quarrying marble ...
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Location:San Gimignano/Carrara Marina
Sounds like more fun was had by all..really looking forward to hearing more adventures in marble tomorrow...
ReplyDeleteOh yeah,...aren't the sidewalks in Richmond paved in marble? :))