Lucca is about an hour from Pisa - that is if you don't get lost like we did and go the scenic route rather than the autostrade. Lucca is from another time. It is a completely walled town full of buildings dating from the 13th centuary. It is very authentic and while full of tourists somehow shuns them off. The streets are narrow and windy and there are 16C palaces and towers everywhere - one even has trees growing on top!

Lucca is also known as a quality wine growing area and is home to the famous Rosso di MonteCarlo. September is grape picking season and we got caught up in the wine festival - life is so tough. We loved this place so much we didn't touch the car for three days. It is one of the best kept secrets of Italy.

We left Lucca and hit the Autostrade first time on our way to the Cinque Terre - 100 km north. This is a string of five fishing villages spread over 12 km of steep coastline connected by a footpath and a trainline. Its all world heritage national park and not only unique but very picturesque. We just couldn't believe our eyes - this isn't Disneyland - its real.

We felt so at home we even hung our washing out the windows like the locals.

We walked between four of the villages - hard going but check out the scenery. This is the town Riomaggiore.

And this the main street of Corniglia - wide huh!

And lastly - Vernazza where we stayed: what can you say.

We hit the autostrade again and headed south to San Giminagno in Tuscany. This like a smaller older more fascinating version of Lucca - so you can imagine what we thought of it. It also has 14 high medieval towers out of an original 70 which makes it look oddly like a modern city from the distance.

The place is a bit busy between 10 and 4 but before and after this it is just magic. Narrow alleys, fascinating piazzas and palaces everywhere. Fantastic views over the Tuscan countryside. Wine. Food. Art. Architecture. History. More wine. What more could you ask for. We explored our third Italian wine type here - Chianti - absolutely not to be confused by the wine of the same name in Australia. Bit like a gutsy Pinot Noir. Its much easier to drink than its hearty cousin - Chianti Classico - which I am sipping while I write this.

On our last night we picked a wine bar facing the countryside and leaning against the wall warm from the day's sunshine we sampled the local white wine as the light slowly faded over the countryside. We love San Giminagno.