Monteriggioni the walled tuscan village and Sienna

The great thing about independent travel is that you have the time and the spontaneity to have little adventures such as the day we discovered Monteriggioni 1213.  A walled medieval hill top town thus built to protect the inhabitants from the waring rivalry between the Siena and Florence regions.  Had the best lunch in the square with traditional service and fine food. As Im writing this blog 8 mnths after our holiday I got a letter today from Italian Police fining me 105 Euros for driving in a restricted area in Siena - I was a lost tourist unable to navigate foreign streets! 

We were driving from Florence to Rome via Siena and passed the quintessential walled town of Monteriggioni

The piazza well in the walled town of Monteriggioni

The gorgeous cafe where we had hearty Tuscan fare.

Oren channelling a Tusan farmer

Siena's skyline - views of the Duomo

Siena's main piazza Il Campo, the sloping square which is the site of the annual Palio horse race. 

Il Campo used mostly by tourist sunning themselves