Day 241 Wed 13 Jun 2007, Florence to Calle di Val d’Elsa, Tuscany

After packing up the apartment and collecting the car, its a short drive to Calle di Val d’Elsa so after finding where the hotel is we head to nearby San Gimignano, which like most of Italy is on the WH list. On the way we stop for a picnic in a wheat field with beautiful views over the Tuscan countryside to consume the last of the cheese, prosciutto, figs and wild strawberries but alas no wine. Then its a quick tour of the town, including ascending the Grosse Torre (big tower) one of 13 remaining from over 100 built in the 1500s by affluent families. The views over the Tuscan countryside are magnificent and are everything they’re hyped up to be. Then a gelato from the world champion gelato maker (They have a world championship – wonder who else enters – maybe its like the world series baseball), which is excellent, best ever.

Back to the hotel in time for a sunset swim. The hotel called the Relais della Rovere is in an old convent, bits of which date back to C11, with a beautiful pool set amid clover lawns and beds of lavender and rosemary.