Old and new in Tuscany

Two stops today married the historic and the contemporary of Italy, but before we traveled to Florence and San Gimignano, we started our day in the church just steps away from our Tuscan residence, the Hotel Villa San Lucchese outside of the town of Poggibonsi
Msgr. Kobbeman offered Mass in the historic San Lucchese Church, in which the saint it is named for is buried. In his homily, he reminded us that the Gospels in this Octave of Easter are still sending us the message of Easter, that Jesus died for us.

As he offered Mass, the lighting on the altar reminded us, too, that Jesus died for us. The shadow from the crucifix behind the altar seemed to show Jesus looking over Msgr. Kobbeman's shoulder.
We also had a treat from one of our number, Caroline Muller, who sang the Ave Marie for us at Communion. The lighted case that holds the remains of the saint is visible behind her in the fenced-off side altar.
Outside the church, the vista of vineyards and valleys on one side, vineyards and mountains on the other, makes it easy to understand why the Franciscan friars who live there settled on that particular view.

The church is also home to a spring festival, which will be taking place this weekend while we are in Rome.
After a short ride to Florence and a drop off near the center of the old part of the city, we had options for shopping, sightseeing and people watching. For many of us, the first stop was an indoor market that has been open since the late 1800's.
Later, we met at the Accademia Gallery of Florence, where Michelangelo's famous David is housed. Originally situated outside what is now the seat of city government, it was moved to the museum to protect it from damage and replica put on its outdoor pedestal. The museum was the only place we couldn't take pictures.
We also stopped at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the duomo, near the center of the old town.
The colors of the marble on the face of the church are symbols of the faith. The green marble stands for hope, the black for faith and the red for charity.

Then we walked a few blocks to the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge in the city that was not destroyed in World War II. Both sides of the river are lined with colorful buildings.
After we left Florence, we traveled to San Gimignano, a remarkably intact medieval city, known for its tower houses, which at one time numbered in the 70s.
The tower-house builders wanted to remain inside the thick, protective walls of the city, but space there is at a premium. So, buildings had to go up.The city is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Today, modern shops line many of the avenues of the walled city, as today they do in the old parts of Florence.
Tuscany has already found a place in our hearts. No doubt, Friday's visit to Siena will further link us to this region of Italy.

-- Sharon Boehlefeld from Poggibonsi,Italy