Day 7 Siena Loop and sightseeing 34 miles

“In America, one must be something, but in Italy one can simply be.”

Pietros Maneos

Of our group, only 3 chose to brave the optional bike ride, "The Siena Loop", albeit a shortened loop aiming to be back for a late lunch.

Leaving required extracting 'buried' bikes, parked for their day's rest.


To see planned route click on link -  Interactive google map

This will open a new window where you can zoom in and also click on parts of overall route to view different days. In the end we took a shorter route that day.

After a circuitous departure through Siena's medieval warren, we climbed very steeply onto an undulating ridge with breathtaking views.

Much of the agriculture south of Siena was wheat.

Huge sweeping vistas

Steve had just returned having been called home briefly for family reasons.

Unlike the roads of the Apennines, the surface of these Tuscan roads was pristine

Our turning point was the small hill village of Murla.

In this isolated haven  one can meet Etruscans. 

About 35 of them live here and represent a migrant population (between 2nd-9th century), exiled from the Middle East, possibly Turkey.    

In the end they became subjects of the Roman Empire. Evidence shows that they were among the first Kings of Rome. 

The offspring of the Roman aristocracy were certainly educated in Etruscan schools.

The research compared the DNA taken from ancient Etruscan bone samples with the DNA of modern-day residents of Murlo.

The result was that the people of Murlo have conserved several genetic characteristics of the Etruscan population (facial features and feet).

We stopped at this Etruscan café...

...and drank Etruscan coffee. 

Views from the terrace were very fine.

Surprisingly little livestock in this bucolic paradise.

Roads allowed easily cycling with reasonable (~8%) climbs and fabulous long descents.

Not wanting to do the organised 62 mile loop in order to have some chill time in Siena, we cut across country...

...only to end onto a slip road for the motorway!

All roads still seem to lead to Rome.

The streets of Siena are a wonder to behold.

The cathedral or 'Duomo' was baroque 'over the top'

Romulus and Remus

Duomo dome...

...and accompanying tower.

Our journey continues...