Favorite Memory:The hands-down winner for favorite memory in Volterra was our private, picnic lunch. This was something I've always dreamed of doing. Armed with my trusty Rick Steves Italian Phrase Book (and a little finger-pointing - in a non-judgmental way of course), I managed to order cheese, salami and some olives at a tiny deli (salumeria). We took our prizes to the lovely park at the top of the town.
Travelers' Tips:Before your trip, make sure you increase your walking routine to ensure you'll have the stamina to keep up with the pace of the tour. Rick Steves tours are very physical. Wayne and I were nervous about whether we'd be able to keep up with the others. Happily, our prep work of extra neighborhood walks before our trip was fully rewarded; our efforts paid off.
Accommodating Accommodations:This lovely hotel even had a restaurant on-site. What these pictures don't show is that the hotel is located at the bottom of a l-o-n-g hill leading up to town. But the good news was that all the walking we did counteracted all the food we ate on the tour. And the food was not only plentiful, but delicious!
(For more about food on a Rick Steves tour, click here.) This is the view from our hotel room. We overlooked the beautiful gardens, swimming pool, and countryside beyond.
Albergo Villa Nencini Borgo Santo Stefano 55 Volterra, (PI), 56048 ITALY Tel: 011 39 058 886 386 Pinch Me. I Can't Believe We're Here! |
Like Lucca, Volterra was eventually assimilated into the Roman Empire. Roman influence can still be seen in the town. Nowhere is the influence more obvious than in these ruins of a Roman Theater.
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