Onward to Volterra
It was now time to head off to Tuscany and say goodbye to Rome. I was apprehensive about the bus aspect of the tour, but it turned out to be one of the best parts. The views from the oversized windows gave us incredible memories. And there is something to be said for letting someone else do the driving and navigating. Italian bus drivers have nerves of steel. Later on, while winding into the Cinque Terra, they proved it with some adept navigation of very narrow and crowded winding roads. I would have pulled over and parked!
Arriving in Volterra we headed down the magical streets to our hotel. I felt like we were in a Harry Potter movie. I fully expected a witch or wizard to come tumbling out of one of the ancient buildings.
Travel Tip: Backpacks are the only way to travel. Rick Steves speaks the truth when he preaches this. We have two of Rick's bags and use them for all our travel now. Getting on and off planes is a breeze. No need to check in and no need to go to baggage claim. And we have found most gate attendants ignore the backpacks while making others gate check their rolling carry-ons when overhead space is limited on flights. On our way home we would have missed our connecting flight in NYC if we had bags to check. Not having to re-check our bags after customs allowed us to make our flight with moments to spare. Pro Tip: Taking less shoes is better. Shoes weigh a lot and take up lots of space in your backpack. If you get a really good pair of comfortable walking shoes, that is all you need. Wear 'em, don't pack 'em!
To conclude Day 3, we were led on an orientation walk around Volterra by Andrea. The atmosphere of Volterra is intoxicating. This place calls to me like an old friend. Perhaps some of my ancestors lived here once. I feel like it calls to me in my DNA.
We enjoyed another group meal that evening at a restaurant called Il Sacco Fiorentino located just off the Piazza del Priori. The meal and the company were top notch. At the end of the meal, I was first exposed to Limoncello. For those who don't know what Limoncello is, it's a very strong after dinner drink that is very lemony and a great way to end a meal.
Day 4 - Volterra
This day would be a full day exploring the Etruscan city of Volterra. The beauty and feel of this city is hard to describe. It is trully something you need to experience for yourself. Of all the places we visited on this tour, Volterra is the place I would come back to live in. One could get used to waking up to these views.
The morning started with a walking tour led by a wonderful local guide who poured out her knowledge of the city and its history. Thats her below. She was from America and had travelled to Italy on vacation many years ago. While there she met and fell in love with an Italian. They got married, she quit her job as an attorney and moved to Italy where she now lives with her husband and children and works as a tour guide.
Our guide told us a story about the town hall building below with the red windows. In the 15th century, during a meeting between representatives from Florence and Volterra, tensions rose, and the Volterran rulers threw the Florentine representative out of one of the windows below. This act of aggression sparked outrage in Florence, and they responded by hiring a mercenary army to lay siege to Volterra.
Eventually, a peace agreement was reached, and Volterra was forced to pay a heavy price for their actions. The incident came to be known as the "Volterran Fiasco," a stark reminder of the dangers of escalating tensions between neighboring city-states in Renaissance Italy.
Eventually, a peace agreement was reached, and Volterra was forced to pay a heavy price for their actions. The incident came to be known as the "Volterran Fiasco," a stark reminder of the dangers of escalating tensions between neighboring city-states in Renaissance Italy.
Along the way we stopped at an alabaster carving workshop. The master craftsman showed his talent crafting a beautiful bowl in mere minutes. The bowl is on the lathe in the picture below. After the walking tour ended, Amy and I rushed back to the workshop and bought the bowl! I know it's simple and small, but moments like that are really fond memories. That bowl now sits on a bookcase in my office and I am reminded of our trip every time I see it!
The rest of the day was free for us to explore the city. The size of Volterra allowed us to quickly get the lay of the land and navigate around the city with ease. We had lunch at an outdoor cafe sitting in a square where we met a nice couple from Switzerland. When you get out of your comfort zone and talk to people from other walks of life, you find yourself. This couple wanted to know why we wanted to come to Europe from America. I had really never thought about the question, I just had always wanted to go. They did not understand the draw as to why we wanted to come there when we had so much back in America. What they didn't understand is we don't have Europe. America is relatively young. We don't have the depth of history that Europe provides. My family history is English and Polish. I yearn to see where I came from. After telling them this, I think they too started to understand why we travel.
The day ended with a trip to the city wall with our new friends from the Tour. After some incredible photos, the eight of us all went for dinner and enjoyed getting to know each other.
Our Must-Do's in Volterra
Amy's : Walk around the city and capture memories of all the massive arched gates, beautiful doors and fantastic hilltop views while eating gelato!
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Rick's: Go out and take in the city after dark. There is something very special about Volterra. The city is a fortified hill town. Walk along the ancient wall that once protected it from harm. Gaze out over the surrounding countryside and take it all in.
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