Medieval to Modern, Italy's history dates back to B.C.  The hilltop medieval village of San Gimagnano is my favorite place, perhaps on earth.  I will go back soon, and capture more of this tiny town's vibrancy.  Check back frequently as I continue to edit images from my latest trip there.

A visit to Tuscany is best  home-based in Siena   A flight from U.S. into Rome which arrives in the early morning is optimal- as you've napped on the flight, and are ready to hit the streets.  In Chianti in May, you may witness the 'Giro d'Italia', the most important bike race in Italy.  When you are 'wine-ing' in Chianti, listen carefully as you'll learn about the Black Chicken and the White Chicken.  Hilltop forts, dotting the entire Italian countryside served a practical purpose in medieval times for security, as look-out posts.  Wine-making goes back to Jesus, and I found a winery that can boast staying in the family since the 1700's- Torciano, in Tuscany.  If you want to see the 5 villages of Cinque Terre, on the Italian coast, in the Ligurian region, you'll pass Carrera (yes, the marble) first.  Which is quarried and moved to the ports near Cinque for passage around the world.  Assisi is the home of the Franciscan order.  Founded by St. Francis in 1182, St. Francis cared for the sick, improved life by opening schools and Assisi is preserved today exactly as it was when St. Francis walked the cobbled streets.