Perfect Tuscan Day - April 23

On this day between the two tours I decided to go to the ancient hilltop town of Volterra.  I have been wanting to go for several years, but it's not too easy to accomplish transportation-wise.  However I decided today was the time to give it a try.  I took a regional bus from Florence that got me as far as Colle val d'Elsa at 9:45 a.m. only to find hat the next bus to Volterra was not until 2:45 p.m.!  There are only four a day and two were gone already.  So, I began my nearly five hour visit in Colle and what an interesting time it turned out to be.  The town was established in the medieval times and the upper "old town" is very quaint and virtually unchanged since the 1400's - you'll  see that in the photos.  I visited the crystal museum, sat in the "lower town" piazza to watch people, had a delicious lunch and went on to Volterra.  More than 2000 years ago it was settled by the Etruscans who were the forefathers of today's Tuscans.  It is still a walled city with many interesting sights.  Alabaster is plentiful in the area and there is a lot of alabaster art and jewelry for sale there.  The history is remarkable and the city is well preserved.  Both places were well worth the time and effort to get there.  However what made it the perfect Tuscan day was not only the great weather, but the scenery was absolutely the most beautiful of any I have seen anywhere in Italy!  It rivals the Amalfi Coast drive - just no Mediterranean Sea here.  It was a feast for the eyes - true Tuscan landscapes with a background of amazing cloud formations.  Well, enough said - "a picture is worth a thousand words" - so enjoy your Tuscan tour for today!