Join a weekly practice of the Banderia Torre degli Uffizzi in the sports stadium of Florence, where a team of 50 flag throwers and drummers whisk heavy flags high into the air.

Stop in at the Black Rooster Restaurant in Siena. On the menu: Sweet and sour duck, oat and porcini pie, roasted sweet and sour pork stuffed with fruit, onion focaccia and biancomangiare.

Paolo returns to watch the flag-throwers. What is now a fun sport was once an ancient war custom where flags were used to give orders to armies; different movements directed their actions.

Next, visit Lucca's Mint, the most ancient mint in Tuscany. Watch a circle of silver get stamped into a coin the old-fashioned way-and take a peek at the world's smallest coin.

Hop on a Galleon, a small attack boat designed in the late Renaissance, with a team from Pisa, one of the four (Genova, Venice, Pisa, and Amalfi) Maritime Republics in Italy.

Chef Livano of Ristorante Bandierine prepares a dish of seafood spaghetti for lunch.

End your medieval tour with a Sienese Palio race in celebration of St. Joseph. Paolo munches on rice fritters before saying Arriverderci!

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