- Tuscan countryside
- Tuscan countryside
- Tuscan countryside
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The monastery was founded by Charlemagne in 781, but I think this church was built between 1118 and 1260. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The exterior is full of funny creatures. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
Capital with Daniel and the Lions by Master von Cabestany (12th century). - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
Another lovely creature on the church. - Ospitalità
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
I did say a lot of strange creatures, right? - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The church with the visible apse of the original Carolingian Chapel on the left. - Tuscan countryside
- Tuscan countryside
- Fortress
The Montalcino fortress was built in 1361. - Fortress
The 14th century fortress was expanded under the Medicis. - Oldtimers
There must have been some sort of an old-timer meeting. - Montalcino
View from the fortress - Tuscan countryside
View from the fortress. The other side. - Fortress
The inner courtyard of the fortress - Fortress
- Eroica bike race
We stumbled upon the Eroica Montalcino bicycle race. - Eroica bike race
It kind of looked ... familiar ;-) - Eroica bike race
They were selling old bikes. And retro jerseys. - Eroica bike race
Plenty of retro knitted jerseys. - Church of Sant'Antonio Abate
The church was mentioned already in 1448, but the facade is from the 18th century. - Eroica bike race
There were bikes everywhere. - Local graffiti
Mona Lisa... the Montalcino way. - Montalcino
I don't quite know what to think of this one... - Eroica bike race
Even the town decorations were dedicated to the bicycle race. - Palazzo Comunale
In 1405 Pope Pius II renamed his home town Corsignano to Pienza and rebuilt it in 1459 as an ideal Renaissance town. Once a town, it needed a town hall. - Santa Maria Assunta
The entrance to the church Santa Maria Assunta. - Santa Maria Assunta
A wonderful ceiling! - Santa Maria Assunta
Madonna con Bambino e i Santi Agostino, Girolamo, Martino e Nicola by Matteo di Giovanni (1463). - Santa Maria Assunta
The church was built on artificial support, but the support was not solid enough. There are massive cracks in the building. - Santa Maria Assunta
- Santa Maria Assunta
- View from Pienza
- Pienza
- Santa Maria Assunta
Yes, unfortunately there are massive cracks. - Santa Maria Assunta
These stairs go very deep. - Santa Maria Assunta
When repairing the support for the collapsing church, they built a whole maze underneath it. A highlight to visit! - Santa Maria Assunta
A wonderful maze! - Model of Pienza
- Palazzo Comunale
The entrance to the Palazzo Comunale. - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Un giovane Bacco by Antonio Amorosi (figure) and Giovanni Paolo Spadino (grapes). Around 1725. - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Crucifix from the end of the 12th century. - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
San Regolo by Domenico di Niccolo "Dei Cori" (1435). - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Madonna col Bambino tra i Santi Biagio, Giovanni Battista, Nicola e Floriano by Lorenzo di Pietro - Vecchietta (1465). - Santa Maria Assunta
The cathedral was built in 1462. It is located in Piazza Pio II, but since there was not enough room, they built some additional support for the church. A mistake, as it turned out. - Flower, flower on the wall
Looking up is sometimes worth it. - Porta al Prato
The medieval entrance to the old town. - Palazzo Avignonesi
Built between 1542 and 1572 by Jacopo Barozzi, known as the Vignola. Now a hotel. - Palazzo Bucelli
The bottom part of this palace is decorated with plenty of Etruscan and Roman remains. Some are quite interesting. - Palazzo Bucelli
I wonder what's the story behind these donkey's ears... Disclaimer: they of course may not be donkey's ears at all. - Palazzo Bucelli
A fish biting a pegasussnake? - St. Agostino Church
Founded in 1285 but completely renovated in the 15th century by Michelozzo di Bartolomeo. The upper facade was changed in the 18th century. - Torre di Pulcinella
This 17th century Pulcinella from Naples strikes the time. The funny thing is that no-one knows how and when it got here ;-) - Torre di Pulcinella
Look at the top! - Palazzo Cervini
- Lago Trasimeno
View towards Lago Trasimeno with a smaller lake in front, possibly Lago di Montepulciano. - Some tall buildings
These are some tall buildings! - Italian charm
This is a charming and inviting entrance. - Fortezza Medicea park
A giant (coffee?) cup in a park. - Palazzo Comunale
Built in 1440 by Michelozzo, inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. - Cathedral Saint Mary Of The Assumption
The cathedral was 'finished' in 1680. Although it was never actually finished. I would assume that in 1680 they just gave up and proclaimed it finished. - Palazzo Comunale
Now this was the highlight of my trip: climbing possibly the tiniest stairs I've ever seen. And I have climbed some dodgy towers in my life. - Palazzo Comunale
And the higher you go, the smaller they become. - Cathedral Saint Mary Of The Assumption
View of the cathedral. - San Biagio
But the view is fantastic! This is San Biagio, built in 1518-1540 by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. - Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi
Piazza Grande in rain. And Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi (left) built in the 16th century by either Antonio da Sangallo the Elder or possibly by Jacopo Barozzi from Vignola. - Palazzo Comunale
I had to agree to so many terms and conditions before I was allowed to climb ;-) - Pozzo dei Grifi e dei Leoni
Two griffons and two lions holding the Medici coat of arms. - Chiesa di Santa Lucia
The church was built in 1653 by Flaminio del Turco, already in baroque style.