Please share your Tuscan Hill Town "Wow" moment.

Cheryl, Congrats on the big 50 and your 25 anniversary. We are waiting for our WOW moment as we are traveling to Montepulciano in May 2010. We are staying at La Falconara Agriturismo recommended by Rick Steves. We will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary! I will be watching your posting to get ideas for our trip. Have a wonderful time!!
Thanks, Judy

Something that we enjoy doing on all of our trips to Italy, including Tuscany, is a leisurely walk around the town in the evening, especially with a gelato in hand.

Also, I'm a runner, and while I'm not a fanatic about running (well, maybe I am), but I really love going for early-morning runs on vacation. I see towns before they wake up, delivery people, people walking their kids to school. An early-morning walk works just as well! In San Gimignano, there's a walk all the way around the outside of the town walls, and offers great views of the surrounding countryside.

If you're visiting Siena, it's not a back-door experience, but one that I love. That's sitting in the Campo, at a cafe, with a glass of wine.

Just driving around the Tuscan countryside and admiring the scenery is a special moment, as is just about every stop at a cafe outside in a lovely piazza.

Enjoy!

Once when we were in San Gimingnano,we happened to be sitting on the steps in front of the church just at dusk. my husband and I were marveling just how beautiful the little piazza was in that light and with most of the daytrippers gone, when all of a sudden the bells started to ring and a choir from inside the church started to sing. It was almost other worldly.

On that same trip, we had planned our visit to San Gim to coincide with a weekend jousting event. The starting times had gotten changed at the last minute and we thought we had missed the festivities. Just as we arrived for a day of sightseeing with my kids, around the corner comes a procession with hundreds of people in full medieval dress and music on the way up to the Rocca for the jousting and other events. My kids eyes and mouths were as wide open as I had ever seen them. Truly priceless.

We have been to the Sabine region near Rome and visited a small hill town called Poggio San Lorenzo. People still do laundry in the central fountain. It's a real treat of old world.

Thanks to all of you for sharing. It's exciting to hear about the experiences of others as I eagerly anticipate my own trip. When we get back (mid August), I will share a couple of my own, "Wow", moments from our trip :)

Cheryl

Having dinner in Barberino Val d'Elsa sitting outside overlooking the valley. And then taking a picture of my brother who at 40 years old and with long hair looked just like Mona Lisa with that Tuscan landscape as a backdrop :-)))))

Since you're staying in Montepulciano, I'll mention one "wow" moment of ours. Walking uphill along the town's main road, it was maybe about 2/3 of the way up when we noticed a pathway on the left with a small sign that indicated a "scenic view". (I don't remember the exact verbiage, it wasn't in English). We followed it, and a short distance later we enjoyed some incredibly breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside. We took tons of pictures just from that spot. It was a highlight of our day.

Maybe the Duomo stairs in San Gimignano is the place for WOW moments. My wife and I were sitting there on what had been a rainy day. The sun broke through in late afternoon and then We heard this beatiful music coming from the little piazza to the left of the Duomo. A man was playing a Celtic harp it was a wonderful moment.

Thanks again to all of you. I love reading about your magic moments! I've made some notes in my RS Italy 2009 book based on your comments.

Only 10 more days until the adventure begins....,
Cheryl :)