Volterra

Took a fabulous twisty motorcycle road from hotel Sovestro to Volterra, a walled fortress from 9th C bc. It had 25,000 people under the Etruscans and was an advanced city based on trading and alabaster and alum (used for dyes).
The Etruscan tombs are still being uncovered and reveal well preserved artifacts that depict life from that time. A very advanced civilization but obviously in exceptional shape as they daily climbed the thousands of stairs (I don't think we are exaggerating at all). Later the Romans came and they built an amazing coliseum here. After their downfall the medieval folks used this site as a midden to dump their garbage and it was only uncovered in the 1950's. In the museum there is an amazing collection of actual artifacts from Volterra's history. I made Anita see them all (again). We had prosciutto on focaccia and cheap but fabulous house white and a marocchino caffe in the central square. Lovely day. Tom Tom (gps) works well here and we did not have to turn around once! Right now we are looking out our patio doors by the pool and watching the lightening storm. Perfect timing.

SanGimigiano

We were a bit nervous to take the rental car (Audi) out of Florence to San Gimigiano today but we got there safe and sound! Love this medieval walled town despite it being packed with tourists. Remembered the finer points of working with teenagers when we reached a spectacular panorama of Tuscan vineyards and castles and one school tourist commented loudly, "where is this scenic viewpoint?" as she was looking right at it. I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder. Staying at a lovely quiet villa outside of town and tomorrow we are off to Voltera.

Last day in Firenze

Tried to see Donatello's David In the Bargello but the workers are striking today as they also are at the Pitti Palace, home of Luca Pitti and then the Medici's. However, their gardens were open and the day was gorgeous so we spent hours in the Giardino di Boboli. They were designed in 1500 by Niccolo Tribolo for the Medici's. We climbed more stairs than the Accademia but the view of the Palace and of Venice was spectacular. At the highest point the vista was 360 degrees of the countryside and city, all the Medici kingdom. Then we had a leisurely lunch, clam linguini for Anita and spicy spaghetti for me in Piazza San Spirito. Lovely fountain in the centre, accordion players serenading and beautiful women riding through the square on bicycles. Great day for photos.