Home Base in Italy

For a large portion of our stay in Italy we tried to find a central location to the many hill towns of Toscany. We found it in Loro Cuiffenna.



This quaint little area was a mill town that supplied the surrounding area with flour and other milled foods. Loro comes from the laurel plants which dot the area.



Loro is also the name for the area and stems from the time of the Etruscans (600 BC), but it is doubtful this little Middle Ages town was in existence way back then.



The second part of the town's name means deer, but we saw not a one.



There were certain parts about our B&B that they could have done a little more professionally, but overall we could recommend it as an excellent spot to spend time as a home base for the Toscan hill country.

The Pantheon in Rome

The Pantheon in Rome
Originally uploaded by Keri Ann.

I'm sure Keri will post similar ones, but we'll both put our favorites on. We sat and gawked at ceiling, amazed like everyone else that someone many centuries ago was able to build this incredible structure. Ironically, as we were reading about the Pantheon being called the umbrella of Rome, it started raining, and...we'll you guessed it.
We ate dinner in front of the
Pantheon , people watched, as usual, and generally talked about life.

Our Italian Itinerary

To all who may think they actually care:
Attached is our itinerary from our trip to Italy, early November 05. It is sort of a mix of what we planned to do and what we did. I'm sure my wife will have me correct it, but pictures will come soon. Ok, within a couple of months unless I do some during Thanksgiving.
Friday
Travel – plane departs 11:35am
Saturday
Arrive in Rome 7:45 am – rent a car – sightsee
Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s
2pm – we must leave for North
Loro Cuifenna, (South of Florence) enjoy our “home” village.
Residence La Fierrara, a renovated Mill with B&B
Sunday
Arrezo - Churches
Siena – go late, stay late.
IL Campo
Eat “Panforte”
Back to LC
Monday
San Gimignano - Shopping – Duh, what else is there?
Volterra – Roman Theatre, Via Matteotti, Via Don Minzoni 30 (Bruno and Lucio), Balsamic Vinaigrette at the Market
Back to LC
Tuesday
Pisa -Yes, there is a little bit more there than just the tower.
Lucca – visit “atmospheric markets”, Bike tour of “ramparts” (2.5 miles), Walk via Fillungo
Wednesday
Cortona - Ambience, views, too bad it was overcast
Etruscan museum – Interesting, could have been more informative.
Assisi - Churches, tombs, theatre
Back to LC
Thursday
Florence – Call ahead for the “Academia” ( Michelangelo’s David)
Uffizi, Churches, walk, people watch.
Back to LC
Friday
Check out in am from LC
Venice – Gondola Ride, Rialto Bridge, San Marco Square
Saturday
Venice - Get Lost in side streets
Grand canal cruise
Head to Rome – Lancelot Hotel
Sunday
Rome - San Callisto Catacombs“Night Walk Across Rome” (pg 535) a one mile walk starting at Campo de’ Fiori (a good place for dinner) see: Piazza Navona, Four Rivers Fountain, Tre Scalini, Pantheon, Piazza Capranica, Egyptian obelisk, Giolittti’s, Piazza Colonnaa, Via del Corso, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps –
Monday
Rome – Do the “Caesar Shuffle” Colosseum to the Forum, then over Capitol Hill Mamertine Prison to the Pantheon.
Take a siesta – then Take a “stroll”(Dolce vita Stroll) from Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish Steps. Augustine’s Mausoleum.
Tuesday Leave at 9:55am – arrive in Cleveland 6:15 pm