Maremma & Tuscany

The third destination on our honeymoon was the Tuscan region of Meremma, a volcanic region of Tuscany located near the sea. Our first stop was Pitigliano, a medevil village carved into the volcanic tufo left by an ancient volcano. We stayed in a charming farmhouse that served as customs depot during the Holy Roman Empire but now exists as the centerpiece of an organic farm. On our second day we took a cooking class and made butternut squash stuffed ravioli prepared entirely from ingredents we harvested that morning. We hiked amid ancient ruins and paths resembing Southwestern slot-canyons carved into the volcanic tufo by the Etruscans to evade Roman conquerers. Following a wine tour at the SassoTondo vineyard we arranged to have a case of their wines sent home. Their wines are aged in a massive cave handcarved by Etruscans at the site of a former Necropolis. Following the tasting our culinary tour continued with a dinner at the beachside Michelin 3-Star resurant, La Pineta.In Siena we visited a stunning black and white marble Catholic Duomo that was temporarily re-opened to coincide with the 2015 World's Fair / Milan expo.On our departure to Pisa we stopped at a Terme Bathe (natural hot spring) in the Tuscan Countryside and enjoyed the relaxing thermal waters.

Tuscany

Sienna

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