We started the day in Siena and after a short bus ride to avoid some high traffic areas we arrived at the Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey. An Abby of the Benedictine Monks founded in 1313. It is still a working Monastery with a fantastic collection of frescoes. It was interesting to enter the monastery via a drawbridge.
The entrance to the Monastery is a drawbridge, if you look close you can see the chains
The Monastery and statue of St. Bernardo, it's founder
It is a treasure trove of beautiful works of art
...and is still a working Monastery
After leaving the Monasltery, we headed uphill for the first leg of out ride. It was a gloriously sunny and bright morning, just warm enough to raise a good sweat but not too hot. We were immediately treated to our first vista within a few turns of the start. That would not abate for the rest of the day.
More beautiful vistas. So good we have to shoot them in panorama
Luca prepared a picnic for us
The rest of the ride was simply more of the great climbs, more screaming downhills and more breathtaking vistas. The only mishap of the day was when I was on one of the faster downhills and had a bee fly inside my shirt and sting me a couple of times...OUCH! I killed it!
At about 2:30 we arrived at our new home for the next few days, the Il Chiostro de Pienza, another converted Carmelite Monastery. It is not only a really nice hotel but has a spectacular view of the
valley below us.
The view from our window
After gathering in the gardens for a few refreshments, cleaning up and having a private wine tasting we had another delicious dinner.
Sadly, tomorrow will be our last day of riding so we are all hoping for continued good weather.
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