Tuscany-Hill Town Trek

Well, that's what our Lonely Planet guide book calls this route, which takes in the hilltop towns of Asciano, Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano.
They are all similar in that they are on the tops of hills, with large protective walls all around them. They are all a challenge to get up, from a cycling point of view, especially when you are carrying lots of camping gear, that you can't use. We stayed in hotels, and had a €106 meal in our Montalcino hotel, although a lot of that was spent on Brunello wine.
The scenery is fantastic though, and of course, if it wasn't hilly, you just wouldn't get it!
The first picture is the Tuscan countryside, as we looked back at Asciano on the way to Montalcino.
The next is looking out at the view at Montalcino, where fog has filled one of the valleys. The third is looking down from Montepulciano, and the last Hannelore with her room with a view in Pienza.