Last days in Italy

Friday 29th June
An early morning start (7:30) saw us in Siena by 8am to see the Palio - a horse race but not in the modern sense. We had to reach the Piazza il Campo first & that was 5 long escalators from where we’d parked the car. It is a Sienese tradition & is where the different Contradas (local area of the city) fight for the honour of their area. Sounds complicated & it was for us to understand but basically there were 5 races around the Piazza ( earth is bought in to cover the cobblestones & 7 horses at a time race three times around. There were a number of spills as the jockeys were riding bareback. A few hours after the races - which are basically the trials - one person from each Contrada captain dresses in medieval costume to find out which horse their jockey will be riding. There are a few more trials before the main race in a few days time. It was terrific to be here to see quite a historic event.

We visited the Duomo and a church where the head and finger of Catherine of Siena was displayed - the rest of her remains appear to be in Rome! Altogether an interesting morning.

Saturday 30th June

We had to leave San Sano today & head to Assisi. The day started okay - I was in a car with Bill & Helen & driving on the right is just not their cup of tea. After white knuckles I was glad I’d taken my blood pressure tables especially when Bill started to drive the wrong way onto a freeway - even I yelled - then a truck came towards us but luckily we were able to get back onto the correct side of the road! I was so nervous I started calling Bill Bob - don’t know where that came from. These driving mishaps didn’t stop us from admiring the scenery - golden hay in rolled bales, seas of sunflowers, the green of the pencil pines& terracotta pots filled with red geraniums.

We arrived in Assisi in the early afternoon & braved the heat, 39C, to walk to the Basilica. It’s very beautiful with brilliant frescos & is on two levels. Went down to St Francis’s tomb.

A walk up the hill after our pre dinner drinks was rather taxing but worthwhile when we reached the restaurant. Thankfully our room had airconditioning.