Heart of Italy in 9 Days
Our 20th Anniversary Trip
Volterra: Is This For Real?
It took all of an hour inside the walls of Volterra for us to decide we wanted to live here. The quaint, narrow streets, outdoor cafes, lack of traffic and gorgeous views were so appealing, I admit to peeking at real estate signs before we left! The town was a stark contrast to sites and crowds of Rome, and a wonderful change of pace on the trip.
Once the tour with Annie started, we were even more impressed at how much history, art, culture, and dining was available in such a small place. Neither of us had ever encountered alabaster art before, and it was impressive to see what the craftsmen could do with this unique material. We are the proud owners of the bowl being made in the picture below!
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Etruscans: Who Knew?!
Coming to Italy, we knew very little Roman history, and even less about the Etruscans. OK - to be honest, we had never heard of them. What surprised us the most was how technologically advanced the Etruscans were - centuries before the Romans showed up. The arch they built is still standing today, theand they had a self-sustaining society inside the walls they build around Volterra.
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The Roman ruins right outside the inner wall again showed the impressive way the Roman Empire took care of its people - entertainment amphitheaters and public baths and gathering spaces. We even got caught up in the excitement of the newly discovered ruins just past the visible ones; we hope they raise enough money for excavation by the time we return!
