Volterra

Volterra, we nipped in here en route from Lucca to Pienza - I forgot this when doing the last blog, but of course found the photos today!!! It is a fortress like town, sitting on a plateau rising a precipitous 1800 ft above the valley below.

The entrance to the city is dominated by a Medicean castle,

now used as a prison.

The attractive main square of Volterra has some of the oldest Civic buildings in Tuscany

dating from 13th century.

Palazzo del Priori

We saw this incredible "busker"

playing a "violin" type sound on his wood "saw".

Typical of Tuscany - small lanes with charming cafes

and large churches

This Roman Theatre below started in the first century BC

This ancient complex comprises both the Roman Theatre and the Acropolis,

Etruscan tombs and Roman Baths (4th century)

Volterra is famous for its alabaster carvings, loads of galleries selling it.

The views from the old town of Volterra

across the surrounding valleys

are outstanding.

Sunset at the North Pole

This could be one of the rarest photos that you will ever see - when the moon was closest to earth on March 13th 2011.

This is the sunset at the North Pole with the moon at its closest point - and the sun is below the moon - just amazing, and quite stunning.

Pienza - our last stop

We leave lovely Lucca and head south toward the border of Tuscany and Umbria, and a small walled town called Pienza, situated between Montalcino and Montelpuciano - she will be our home for the last 3 nights.

And in mid May those outstanding poppies are still in bloom.

We could've stopped a thousand times for a sit, a gaze and to take some photos

but these Tuscan roads are quite "narrow",

and of course one must also contend with the Italian drivers!!!

The Tuscan scenery in mid spring is just outstanding

Below is one of our neighbours - Montalcino

Our Hotel - Piccolo La Valle is just on the outskirts of Pienza's 14th century walls

Newish building, and she has parking !

Outdoor seating in Piccolo's garden

her roses were in bloom

overlooking the Val d'Orcia.

After unpacking we walked through the wall's arch

to find a cafe for a light lunch

we were actually in Pienza's siesta period, but found one delightful little place open

which served us a stunning risotto.

Pienza sits on a tiny bump of a hill, and the village sits as a testament to one man's ambition and ego - Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pope Pius 11).

At the height of the 15th century Renaissance, the humanist Pope Pius 11 converted the tiny village in which he had been born (Corsignano) into the ideal Renaissance city.

Pope Pius 11 rebaptised this ancient hamlet with the name "Pienza" elevating it to a level of a city.

But for all Pius's dreams, Pienza never became more than a village, today it has about 2,500 residents.

In 1996, the city became part of the World Heritage of UNESCO. The international community recognising the importance of Pienza's original example of town planning.

In 2004 also the Val d'Orcia, of which Pienza is part of, came under the UNESCO World Heritage, with its admirable example of harmony and rapport between man and nature.

We roamed around the old walls

incredible views everywhere!!

We were also looking for the whereabouts of a Trattoria which we had already booked for Sunday lunch - Trattoria Latte di Luna.

My cousin Ails and her husband Rod had eaten here last year - and loved it.

We found her in sunshine, but on Sunday it was pouring and without a reservation there was no chance of eating at Latte di Luna - an absolutely incredible 3 course feast for 15 euros - just so really really good and not rushed.

By luck again, we were in Pienza during its Flower Festival (2nd weekend of May), hence the flowers adorning Pius 11 Square below.

The renaissance Pius 11 Square has a trapezium shape, and around it are the principal monuments - Above is the Cathedral, the facade in travertine is in the purest Tuscan-Roman Renaissance style, the octagonal bell tower represents similarity with those of the Austrian and German churches.

Above is the Town Hall, Ailsa and Rod attended a wedding here last year. The Town Hall (seat of the Local Council) is characterised by a wide loggia supported by columns in travertine with ionic capital, with a facade decorated with a design technique in plaster and a tower, then later in brick.

The 3rd major building in Pius 11 Square is the Borgia Palace above - this Palace is today the seat of the Diocesan Museum.

Above is the courtyard of the Piccolomici Palace.

We then walked back to sit out the front of our room at Piccolo La Valle for our tuscan happy hour.

and to take in the sun setting

Across the incredible Val d'Orcia

Piccolo was definitely a good choice.

Keys to the Gold Coast

A great welcome home was given to 2 Golden Champions today, Sam Stosur - USA Grand Slam Tennis Champion, and Sally Pearson - 100 meter hurdles World Champion. They were driven through to the Broadwater Park, there were huge crowds waving and cheering them all the way, it was such a glorious sunny day as well.

The Mayor of the Gold Coast, Ron Clark presented Sam and Sally with their Gold Keys to the city. and the Gold confetti started flowing over these 2 very humble champion ladies.

Our not so humble female Premier of Queensland presented them both with Queensland Champion Awards.

*****

By coincidence both Sam and Sally attended the same school, Helensvale State High School on the Gold Coast, and also both trained at the Queensland Academy of Sport.