Sunflowers bloom under a brilliant blue sky between the towns of Siena and San Gimignano in Italy's Tuscany region. In the Tuscan countryside people start their day quite early, just before dawn, but wind down in the early afternoon for siesta. Shops reopen in late afternoon and dinner usually isn't served until 9 p.m.

(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Siena: Italy's Very Own Magic Kingdom," September 2003, National Geographic Traveler magazine)