Day 27 Thurs 11th July Florence to Viareggio via Pisa

This morning we left Florence for the last time (thank goodness) and drove back into the Tuscan Hills and Chianti to visit a winery.  The countryside was beautiful.  We drove down a dirt road (just like old times at home) and arrived a a new looking winery.  It didn't look much from the entry but when we got inside things changed dramatically.  The winery has been in the family since the 1400's and is now in the 24th generation.  This winery building was very new and state of the art and designed by the sister of the current generation.  She is an architect. It looked like nothing from the top level - just a concrete area with lots of stainless steel plates. But there were 2 massive levels below with all the latest technology of winemaking - millions of dollars worth. Even an underground limestone cave/spring was incorporated into the design as the natural cooling for the cellars. The plates above ground were actually chutes for the grapes to go straight down into the first fermenting vats. It was unbelievable.
From here we drove to Pisa to see the leaning tower.  The tower itself was beautiful but we had to fight our way through the heat, crowds and hundreds of tacky souvenir tents run by the Africans. It really spoilt the beauty of the tower
Then off to the most surprising place we have visited so far.  A stunningly beautiful seaside town called Viareggio.  Not many people outside of Italy have hear of it an certainly no tours except the very best go here. It was beautiful, clean, fresh air, not a sign of souvenirs and a beach which went for at least 5 kms by about 200 metres of sand.  This whole area was covered in tens of thousands of brightly coloured umbrellas, tables and deckchairs complete with a towel on each. It was a private beach run by the council and you had to pay if you wanted a chair. (Gigi said in summer every chair is filled)  This resort is the best in the  Italian riviera where the rich come to stay.  The massively wide promenade running the length of the beach had hundreds of cafes and boutique shops right along it. It was so peaceful and inviting that we wanted to swim in the sea.
Our hotel was very fitting for this resort and after a lovely cocktail party and buffet dinner the temptation was too much and the 4 of us went for a swim in the Mediterranean at 10 pm. (no photos!!!! ) We found out that if we put our towels on the sand (ALL the sand has been trucked in because the natural beaches in this area are stones) we didn't have to pay anything.  The water was divine - very warm and refreshing but also very shallow.
Another perfect end to the day
PS The pictures have jumped all over the place again

dirt road to the winery

2 floors underground

4 of these natural caves provided cooling and looked like large paintings

the name of the family

the top level

the hills of the Chianti region (from the bus)

At Pisa

I messed this one up - too far away

our beautiful hotel at Viareggio

the beach and trucked in sand

view from our roof - the beach stretches from top left to way past right

right of the rooftop. if you look closely you will see the coloured umbrellas

the most amazing beach and resort we have ever seen

lots of these cafes on the unbelievably wide promenade

cocktails in our hotel

followed by buffet dinner

desserts to die for

I had a taste of each