Day #6 Volterra ( our favorite)

Our most favorite Italian city would have to be Volterra. We were going to skip this place but decided to go there anyway. We are so glad we did. It is low key not near as touristy as the rest of the places we had been. It is set up on a hill so you have this beautiful view of what I pictured Italy looking like. Lots of rolling hills, vineyards and villas.

Volterra was run by a group called the Etruscans. They were mostly known for their work with urns. Urns are vases or marble blocks that the ashes of the deceased were placed in. This city has history in it of some years B.C. I apologize I don't know the exact year, but it has quite a history with it. It is also, (for all you Twilight readers) the home of the Volturri. The head of the vampires and where Bella saves Edward. So, of course we had to walk the steps that Bella walked to save Edward from the Volturri. It was an enjoyable and peaceful day.

A view of Tuscany's landscape as we were walking up to the gates of Volterra.

Even though we felt we stepped back in time when we were there, it was great to see all the antennas on peoples roofs.

The front gate to Volterra. It is a very old gate. You can see at the top to the right and left some blobs sitting on the corner of the archway. Those blobs used to be faces of something, but have been well weathered. That is all that remains of them. This gate was almost lost in WWII. The Nazi army wanted to blow it up to keep the Allies from coming. The city people begged them not to do it and pulled up the cobblestone walkway and plugged up the opening with them and then returned each cobblestone to its place when the war was over.

Another beautiful view of the landscape.

The clock tower where Bella had to run by to save Edward.

This is one of the Urns. They would carve the history of the person on these urns and place in them money, plates and spoons, and little trinkets that represented their honorable life achievements. The money was to help pay for their journey to the next world. The plates and spoons were given so they would have something to eat their food on in the next world. The trinkets would show their rank in society. Sometimes they would place mirrors in their urns so they could see how they looked in the next world.

Our first experience with a "water closet". Can you say culture shock!! It is what it looks like. There were no men and women's bathroom, just 4 of these stalls in a row. You can see where your feet go, and there is a hole in the back of where your feet go. Then you push the button on the back of the wall and hope the trickle of water washes it all down. As you leave you remember why you mother told you to never put your feet on the table.

This is the big open plaza that Bella had to run through, crowded with people, to get to Edward on the other side.

This was a theatre that was used a long time ago. You can see the round things in the back. They were used as spas or baths.

The rock wall at the bottom of the church used to be part of the theatre but the stones were taken from the theatre and used to build this wall.

Another view of the Theatre.

A cute picture of the streets of volterra. I loved the laundry hanging out all over.