September 4th we docked in Civitavecchia, near Rome. Since we have been to Rome and spent some time there a few years ago, we decided to go along the coast to Tarquinia. This is a historic town near some Etruscan Ruins and tombs. We only spent a few hours in Tarquinia and then headed back to the ship by local bus.

A restaurant in Tarquinia. We sampled the gelato. There is nothing like it here in the U.S. We dream of returning to Italy for the best gelato in the world.

September 5 , we docked in Livorno, Italy and got an early morning start for an eleven hour tour of the Tuscan countryside and lunch in the San Gimignano area. Here is a fortress around the town of San Gimignano.

Thirteen towers dominate San Gimignano's skyline. Of the original 72 Medieval towers, only 14 remain and only one is open to the public. The town has narrow streets and a large Piazza.

The towers were built by noble families in the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was very prosperous.( It was on the main pilgrim route from northern Europe to Rome). The richest families built the tallest towers. The Piazza della Cisterna is named after the well in its center and is the heart of the town.

The Palazzo del Popolo houses the council chamber of the town hall.

The church in the piazza in San Gimignano

One of the towers rises into a blue sky.

San Gimignano's town hall and two towers.

A narrow street in San Gimignano.