T_24_1108Tuscan steak The last night's dinner at Santa Vittoria was this exquisite Tuscan steak, which the four of us shared.

T_24_1101 This was the view from our breakfast table the next morning.

Then we headed to the hill town of San Gimingano. T_24_1113 T_24_1142 This was our first sighting of the town and its towers.

San Gimignano has 14 of these medieval towers still standing, of the original 72. These towers were built by the town's noble families, either for protection or to display their wealth.

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This is the only tower open to the public. I climbed its 218 steps to the top.

From here, I could look down on the square and streets below.

T_24_1128 T_24_1125 It also provided great views of the surrounding countryside.

T_24_1129 T_24_1132 Back in town, there were the usual tourist traps and food vendors.

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T_24_1137Reciting Dante's Inferno

This man was reciting Dante's "Inferno", in Italian, so it meant nothing to me.

San Gimignano was a must visit because of its hilltop setting and its famous towers, but not much else.