Deli
of Delights
Everything needed for the most splendid of picnics
was here.
On
the Lookout
The archers' slits in the thick wall provided both
maximum protection and the ability to fire off bow shots
from a number of angles
Kiss
of the Pharaoh
Justine interacts with a street performer.
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All
that climbing helped us generate a keen appetite,
and we were ready now to find some sustenance. Off the main
street we discovered a bakery that supplied us with fresh
warm bread, as well as a deli stocked with a great variety
of delicious appetizers and accompaniments.
Bypassing the regional specialty of
wild boar, together we chose small tastes of several
flavorful delights and easily assembled the makings of a memorable
meal.
We knew where we wanted to dine--earlier
we had spotted the place from our perch at the top of the
tower. While we called it "the castle"
it was actually the ruins of the town's venerable fortress.
The stone walls, as thick as my arm was long, encompassed
a lovely park-like area, with an expansive view of the countryside--the
ideal local for our improvised open-air feast.
Feast
in the Ruins
The delicious meal laid out in the midst of the ruins
(mouse over the photo to zoom in and get a detailed
description of the menu).
The history of San Gimignano includes
many battles for political control of the area, and
for centuries the fortress served as a necessary refuge for
those caught in the middle of it all.
Removed in time from those less peaceful
days, we feasted, and then wandered the grounds, full and
happy, stopping to listen for a while as a musician
played his flute. It echoed off the face of the ruins, ancient
and haunting.
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