Cecina Mare

The rolling hills of Tuscany, a green grey patchwork dotted with yellow wheat fields and freshly ploughed furrows, wrap around all sides of San Gimignano like a velvet cloak.











Scattered throughout are the narrow lanes leading to the vineyards and their tasting rooms.  Or at least that's what we'd expected. Throughout the small township there are at least six tasting shops for the region.  What we didn't realize was the surrounding vineyards are represented by the shops, not at the property, as we are accustomed.




Our careful negotiation along these narrow lanes proved very quickly to be a fruitless excursion.  So we headed for the coast, snaking our way along some 60klms of winding bends and close shaves with oncoming transport.

 Cecina Mare is already busy with the summer sun seekers.  The long black sand beach covered in neat rows of brightly striped deck chairs are shaded by their matching umbrellas.  It reminded me somewhat of California's Venice beach, in a milder form.

Spagetti vongole and ice cold beer was a delicious alternative to the expectations at the vineyards though, and the near nakedness of the sun bathers a contrast to the medieval architecture of San Gimignano.