Traveling in Tuscany Tuesday 8th

The coach was rolling at 8 am sharp as we headed out of Rome. Heading north our first stop was at Siena. We had a brief stop for the driver to purchase a permit to enter the town. You have to get permits to enter towns - a form of tax.
Siena is beautiful town with narrow streets, cobblestones and a large piazza. It is also home to Monte del Paschi Di Siena, the oldest bank in the world, the name which is well known to staff of Bendigo Bank.
The piazza hosts a horse race twice a year which draws huge crowds and must be tortuous for the horses as it is a tight circuit with sharp turns.
The church of St Catherine who is the patron saint of Europe and Sienna. After she died her body was dismembered and pieces are in different places. Her head and 1 finger is in Sienna and the main body is in Rome.
We then headed for Florence (Firenze) where we were taken to the Piazza and to a Gold shop and a Leather shop. Some of the group enjoyed (??) a Spritz which is a local concoction guaranteed to stand you on your head. Dinner was at our hotel.