San Gimignano, Italy

From 2010 New Year's Day, 3 days in Tuscany holiday, is unforgettable and really enjoyful trip in my life.

Four-season in Tuscany, are all attractive. Beautiful view even in the winter, maybe much more mysterious: a charming scenery, a green rurality, a fresh temporature, a bright sunny sky, amazing discovery...

San Gimignano in Tuscany, is one of the surprise on our trip. It rises on a hill (334m high) dominating the Elsa Valley with its towers. Once the seat of a small Etruscan village of the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC) it began its life as a town in the 10th century taking its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes. The town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the "Via Francigena" the trading and pilgrim's route that crossed it.

It's called ''City of Towers''

San Gimignano is an important town in the Middle Ages due to its position on a trade and pilgrimage route, it was full of tall towers built by competitive and quarrelsome Tuscan families. Warring, the Black Death and the aggression of nearby Florence put a halt to the town's progress, and it remained a memorial to its 11th-13th century prosperity. There were once an incredible 72 towers rising above the town's rooftops. There are fewer towers nowadays, but the fourteen remaining are still impressive in the misty distance.

In the Museo Civico/Pinacoteca you can see various paintings depicting the town in the days when it bristled with warlike skyscrapers. One depiction shows a miniature town in the lap of St. Gimignano himself, who - to judge by the illustrations of his life - seems to have been a very busy patron saint.

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Visiting in Turin, Piemonte

Turin, an important city of technology and industry in Italy (in Italian: Torino), is the capital of Piemonte region, located in the northwestern of Italy; is the one near French border.
Mole Antonelliana (Picture 1), is Turin's landmark building, was completed in 1888 as a synagogue. The 167.5-meter tower is the highest work of masonry in Europe and it now contain one of the finest cinema museum of Europe.

The National Cinema Museum

The museum opened in July 2000, in the building that has come to symbolize Turin. In a spectacular setting the museum offers artifacts from the collection of the Maria Adrianna Prolo Foundation including magic lanterns, optical illusions, photographs, drawings, models and other curious items. Amongst a fascinating array of other movie memorabilia, be sure to check out the original cape worn by Christopher Reeve in Superman. If you're a certain age, that's incredibly exciting!

Picture 2: Turin - The house of the King Picture 3: Turin - City Central Square (Piazza) Picture 4: Turin - Building & Street Picture 5: Turin - Churches Picture 6: Turin (night view) - The Po River, flowing through the city
Picture 7: Turin - Sunset colors
Picture 8: Turin - Central Railway Station
Picture 9: Turin Stadium - Football (Juventus) Picture 10: Turin - FIAT Automobile

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A day to exploring Hampshire

Hampshire, a county of southern England on the English Channel, it was a county constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which returned two Members of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832.

This is a day for exploring the backbone of English rural life - country villages. Hampshire has plenty of special ones and is also renowned for beautiful rivers, so this tour combines both.

Upper Clatford is south of Andover in the River Andover in the River Anton valley, with thatched cottages and ancient All Saints Church. Neighbouring Goodworth Clatworth is also on the Anton (both villages have charming bridges). Walkers can ascend Bury Hill for sweeping valley view, or stroll in Harewood Forest.

Take the southbound A3057 road and turn left for Wherwell, down a hill with splendid views of the Test Valley. The village is a showpiece, with cottages clustered around the River Test, a ginclear chalk stream - stand on the wooden footbridge and spot the brown trout that anglers will pay almost anything to pursue.

Across the river is Chilbolton, a picturesque collection of cottages and farmhouses, plus a 12th century church. Then, return to the A3057 and a sharp right and left will take you to Longstock. This village would be the most delightful in Hampshire if there weren't numerous other contenders.

Continue to Stockbridge with its wide main street and river bridge, headquarters of the angling fraternity. Walkers will appreciate the sweeping expanse of Stockbridge Down.

A wonderful way to end a day that has shown the English countryside at its very best.

Don't miss: the National Collection of old-fashioned roses in the walled gardens at Mottisfont Abbey. Cultural types may prefer the unusual drawing room decorated by artist Rex Whistler.

Best time to go: in May and June, a sunny day!

Accommodation: to find a proper acccommodation, click here: hotels in Hampshire. Enjoying your exploring.