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| On the road through some of the most beautiful country in the world! |
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| After a while, we stopped to "Smile" (Patrizia for potty break) |
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| Bob & Theresa |
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| "You are here!" |
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| Patrizia spends a lot of time coordinating with various people to keep the pilgrimage running smoothly |
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| Vanessa |
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| Fr Vince & Renee |
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| Bob and Sue |
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| Bob - A little snack! |
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| Our driver |
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| Some of the escalators worked and part didn't |
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| Once we reached street level, the climb continued |
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| Sharon's back made walking difficult, but she made it fine |
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| The baptistry |
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| Bob - A little snack |
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| Piazza del Campo - known simply as Campo |
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| Palazzo Publico |
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| From inside Palazzo Publico |
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| Ruth and Linda enjoy some gelato for lunch! |
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| A church we passed while looking for a cash machine |
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| In front of the fountain |
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| A stolen kiss |
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| This reprised a visit from 2007 |
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| We met Roberta our tour guide on the edge of Campo |
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| Campo is the scene of a traditional series of games known collectively as the Pallo |
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| Roberta gave us a short orientation talk |
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| Bob was reunited with a man whose cell phone he borrowed to call Patrizia |
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| Along the way |
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| A walk to the Cathedral (why is everything uphill?) |
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| A short stop at Academia Musical Chigiana |
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| A short walk further and Duomo (Cathedral) comes into view |
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| This wall is the only part of an expansion of the Cathedral |
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| The facade of the Cathedral is intricate and very beautiful |
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| The door |
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| Bob waits near entrance |
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| The holy water font |
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| This mosaic honors the traditions and history of the region - It may be the only object inside a Catholic Church that is dedicated to a pagan concept |
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| The wall art is amazing |
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| The main stained glass window over the door |
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| The nave |
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| A side altar |
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| The pulpit is intricate with carvings |
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| The floor mosaics are protected from foot traffic |
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| This wall outside the Chigi |
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| The Chigi Chapel is the last addition to the Duomo and was commissioned by by the Sienese Chigi Pope Alexander VII |
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| This statue of Mary Magdalene in the Chigi Chapel is reminiscent of the Ecstasy of Terese in Rome's Santa Maria del Vittorio |
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| The Piccolomini Library has some of the most fabulous art in Italy - here the ceiling |
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| Murals on the walls |
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| Choir books with huge print to be read from a distance |
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| The house where St Catherine grew up - we will return tomorrow for mass here |
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| The church of St Domenic where Catherine worshipped |
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| The Cathedral from St Domenic's |
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| The Palazzo Publico from St Domenic's |
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| St Domenic's from the Duomo |
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| When the Vatican insisted on having the body of Catherine in order to process her sainthood, the people of Siena kept her head and finger |
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| We were privileged to have mass in the small chapel off the sacristy where St Catherine's head is held. |
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| Steve reads Epistle |
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| Statue of St Catherine on the way to the bus |
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| At an overlook, we could see both the Duomo & St Domenic |
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| Walking back to the bus |
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| Some handsome homes along the way |
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| And this beautiful fountain |
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| Our path took us along the wall of the fortress |
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| At the hotel, we were greeted with this sculpture |
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| Many of us went to a wine tasting at a local winery. When the bus stopped, they said we would be shuttled the 1/2 mile to the winery. Sue & Bob decided to walk what turned out to be a little over a mile |
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| The Tuscan countryside is beautiful and ideally suited for wine making |
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| The winery includes a private Chapel dedicated to St George |
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| A brief tour of the grapevines |
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| Then a short walk to the house from the Chapel |
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| A tour of the wine making area |
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| The family put on a great spread of cold cuts, cheese, sandwiches and deserts |
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| We gathered at three long tables and enjoyed the hospitality of this very nice family |
Tomorrow - Mass at St Catherine's home and then Florence!
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