Radda and Volterra

We visited two more ancient hill towns the same day we went to Monteriggioni, and I just hope I have them straight as far as my pictures go.  If I don't, I hope DH will straighten me out.

The second town was Radda, a walled city and the third was Volterra, the place to buy alabaster.  The photographs are primarily of things I found lovely (what a surprise!).

The next three belong in my "Shadows, Light, and Dark" collection.

Fascinating roof lines and towers are common in all the lovely towns we visited, but sometimes when they all come together in one photograph, well, it's just special. In this one there's the pattern on the underside of the roof on the right as it lead the eye to the tower peeking above another roof.  Then the two towers one in front of the other.  The one in front a lancet window, and, is that a door?  Slide down the angled roof to enjoy the stubby (by comparison, any way) tower on the left with its unique windows. Then pull back to appreciate how all are linked by the lower roofs.  So neat!

Then a tower with all types of textural interest.  Wonder why they included all the intriguingly regularly space empty spaces and stones or metal protuberances?  Was it, as I like to think, because it adds beauty to an otherwise rather plain facade?

It was also the time of year when the ivy changes to its fall red.

 A beautiful door creaks open . . .

Wonder what the history of this building is?

This may look like the view of Radda from a tower, but it isn't.  This is a model!

My current favorite laundry photograph!

Gorgeous, smooth red doors in such a rough wall!

A close-up view from the town; the trees that surround every building here makes me embarrassed to think of all our new developments where the builders flatten the land, scrape all the topsoil off, and remove every tree.  I've said that before, haven't I.  

Another looking straight up to enjoy the windows and those two holes?

Oh, those clouds!

 Don't you think this tower in Volterra should be in a novel set in medieval time with knights and fair ladies?

 Wish I knew what that flash of red is in this photo, but it makes the picture for me.

Terrific windows.

And this gate in Volterra?  It has great significance as the inhabitants of the town were ordered by the occupying Germans to raze it and use the stones as a barrier against the American/English forces.  Those inhabitants were mainly women, children, and elderly men who had to take this gate apart with their hands and brute strength.  The bronze plaque commemorates that event.

More pictures of the town and churches:

By now you may have noticed that our tour took place in late afternoon.  After it was over we stopped for supper and then scurried to get a cab to our hotel.

Included in our tour was this view of the Roman ruins (which were built on the top of even older Etruscan ruins).

Now this was a really speedy and possibly not very informative visit to two very interesting and lovely towns.  But we still have many places to see so I do have to hurry on.