Volterra and Pisa

Volterra * Pisa

15,329 steps

We spent the morning exploring the hill town of Volterra, an important Etruscan town that pre-dates the Romans by several hundred years.  Our little Villa is about a 15 minute car ride down the hill from Volterra along a twisty country road.  We gave ourselves a walking tour of the city that included many interesting stops, from an ancient Etruscan arch (many experts believe the Romans got their idea of the keystone from the Etruscans), old towers, brass torch holders, the more modern civic building (reminded me of Florence) and church with baptistery.  Like Siena and Florence, the church takes a back seat to the civic building which dominates the town square.  

The highlight was our visit to an alabaster workshop, where we talked with the sculptors about the beauty of alabaster in this region, and an artist who does water color etchings.  She did an entire demonstration for us that the kids really enjoyed.

After our lunch of prosciutto sandwiches (which we have had almost every day since arriving - LOVE prosciutto and gratefully so do the kids) - we headed off to Pisa to climb the leaning tower.  The tower looks great!  I guess it was recently restored and secured (actually raised 6") and it is probably in better shape than it's ever been.  (The tower sits 15' off of center).  It was a bit freaky climbing the 700 stair ascent and feeling the weight of gravity pull you in different directions as you headed around the bell tower.  At the top you can actually exit for a panoramic view of the city; gratefully it's all fenced off so there is no fear of falling, although it still gave Eric vertigo and Charlie complained that he was holding his hand too tightly.

Tonight the kids enjoyed a post dinner swim in the very cold swimming pool that sits on our Villa property.  It's a beautiful pool with a view, but it needs to be about 20* warmer to be enjoyable.  The weather was perfect today!  Overcast, cool breeze, light rain in the afternoon.  I hope it stays like this until after Florence!

View of our Villa from the street

Charlie and Sydney

On top of the tower of Pisa

Inside the Civic building in Volterra

Civic Building Volterra

Alabaster workshop

Italian hot chocolate