After leaving the Amalfi Coast in September, we took the train to Florence and rented a car to drive all over the Tuscany region of Italy. We stayed in a small town called Volterra on a hill in Northwest Tuscany. We really enjoyed our time in Tuscany. It was really only marred by our frustrations with the road system in Italy (that was tough to learn) and our lodging accommodations at a small Convent in Volterra (because of the room, we were not able to sleep very well, unfortunately). We visited about a dozen towns in the Tuscany region and had a couple days of sporadic showers (the most spectacular of which was while we were at the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa). But the weather was mostly great. The region was gorgeous, but we seemed to have come after the harvest season and most of Tuscany seemed freshly plowed. Angela put her aggressive driving to good use, and really seemed to fit in with the other drivers in Italy. Luke put his expert navigation skills to the test to figure out how to traverse the region without a GPS unit in the car. We were also up against the clock each day, as our Convent keepers told us that our curfew was 10pm and we would be locked out for the night if we weren't inside by then.
We really did like Tuscany as a whole, and hope to come back some day before the harvest season.
Luke was always trying to capture the Tuscan countryside.
This is Volterra, the town we stayed in during our Tuscany time. Angela was very excited about Volterra, because it is menioned in the "Twilight" Books.
Volterra
Orvieto, our first "Hill Town". Technically, I beleive the first couple towns we visited were in Umbria and not Tuscany, but it was all gorgeous.
The neighborhoods in these hill towns spill down the side of the hill in a cascade of rooftops. Orvieto.
Orvieto.
Civita, probably one of the coolest (and smallest) towns we visited.
And one of the most picturesque...
Definitely frameable.
This will be hanging on our wall someday... probably in the garage.
Civita.
This is the main town square in Civita... it makes up about a quarter of the town I think.
Civita and Luke.
If we were going to live in Civita, this would be our house.
The front gate to Civita.
On our way back to Volterra from Civita, we discovered this little resort town on a lake called Bolsena. It was just like a little southern Californa town, but with Italian people. We loved it and wished we could stay there longer... but we were worried about our curfew!
On our 2nd full day in Tuscany, we went to Pisa, famous for it's leaning tower.
The Leaning Tower is located in the "Field of Miracles" with a large Cathedral (center) and a Baptistry (in the forground). Can you see those clouds in the sky as well... don't they look ominous?
This picture was taken at the top of the Leaning Tower, shortly after the downpour started. We were literally stuck at the top and had to find shelter next to the large Bell because they would not let us down the slick stairs at first. So in the extreme downpour, lightning and thunder, we took pictures and video and hoped the tower would not lean any further (tipping us over the edge). Angela stayed in good spirits and we both nervously giggled every time the lightning lit up the sky and the thunder roared.
On our way back from Pisa and Lucca, we stopped at San Gimignano, just north of Volterra. We really liked this small hill town as well. It was very Midieval looking and we could imagine ourselves living in those times easily in this town.
Luke was very excited to go to Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis. It was definitely one of the most interesting towns we visited, but also one of the most touristy in many ways. This is a picture of the Basilica of St. Clare.
Cool looking castle above the town... check!
Cool watchtower and ramparts above the town... check!
We didn't go in this castle, but it was definitely impressive up above Assisi.
Angela looking back from her view over the Assisi's countryside.
Cool looking castle above the town... check again (it was that impressive)!
Duomo of San Rufino in Assisi. Angela was sitting in a nearby cafe having some coffee while this was taken... she was already getting really good at sitting in cafe's.
Right about the time we were looking at San Rufino's Duomo, the clouds started looking ominous.
The little town of Assisi has a ton of cool looking churches, both big and small.
We had another rain storm in Assisi, but we just went to our car to get our rain gear and toughed it out... we ARE from the Pacific Northwest. This little Angel didn't seem to mind the rain at all though.
This is the Basilica of St. Francis. It was very cool looking, especially with the statue of the horse and rider opposite (I believe the horse and rider symbolize Peace).
The rain started up again about the time we were heading in to the Basilica. We got to go down and see St. Francis tomb... so we are pretty sure he IS dead.
On the way back from Assisi we stopped in a small hill town called Cortona. This is it's main town square I believe.
Cortona had really great views of the surrounding countryside.
Would it be easiery to live at the top or bottom of one of these neighborhoods?
The sun kept peaking out of the clouds and you couldn't help but be inspired by Tuscany!
Cortona, Italy.
As Angela drove, Luke would continually pop his head and camera out of the window to try and capture the beauty of the Tuscan Countryside. The pictures down't do it justice though. It was gorgeous.
Tuscany
Grapes in Tuscany.
On our last full day in Tuscany we visited Siena. If we only had one day to come back to Tuscany, I think we both agree we would go back to Siena.
There are a lot of bells and crosses in Italy, and Siena was no exception.
Basilica of San Domenico, Siena.
Duomo in Siena.
The architecture in Siena is so unique with it's glaring white Cathedral and other structures (Baptistry, Bell Tower, etc).
So white!
The world famous Piazza del Campo. The main square of Siena.
This was probably one of the coolest Piazza's we saw in Italy. Piazza del Campo. Siena, Italy.
We probably could have spent many, many hours here in the Piazza... stupid curfew!!!
Angela... relaxing at another cafe. Piazza del Campo.
We visited a museum in Siena that had great views of the entire city. So this is a birds eye view (if the bird were perched atop this museum we were at) of Siena.
Bell Tower and Baptistry of Siena.
Another Bird's eye view. The colors of Siena were so dramatic and cool.
This is a "Luke's Eye View" of the Duomo.
One last shot of Siena.
Can I have a farm in Tuscany? I will split it with you.
This is the courtyard of the convent we stayed at in Volterra. See those doors at the end? We feared the locking of those doors every evening we drove back. They were really nice though. But our room seemed as if it hadn't changed since the middle ages. And the room would get so hot at night, we didn't sleep much. And pretty sure there were g-g-g-ghosts... but don't tell Angela that.
Tuscan hillsides.
Just outside of Volterra, there was a giant letter "O" (at least, we think it was... it could have been a zero maybe or an unfinished "8" or something). We couldn't resist taking a picture with it, but we still don't know what it was for. Luke's best guess is that they are going to spell out "VOLTERRA", and started with the letter "O" because they got a good deal on it. Next year, they are hoping for a price break for the two "R"s.
Angela on a Tuscan Hillside... can't tell which is more lovely. Wait, it's Angela! I should have just said that first.
Tuscany, Italy.
Someday I want a house with a tree lined driveway... in Tuscany.
Grape Fields in Tuscany.
One last look at Tuscany on our way to Florence.
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