Tuscany and Volterra 

After Rome, driving into Tuscany was like a whole new world, and Volterra was like a storybook come to life. We had time to explore and then enjoyed a true Tuscan feast with our group. 

The next day our local guide, Annie, shared her extensive knowledge of the Etruscan people who lived here nearly 3,000 years ago. She showed us the Roman ruins (with the excellent tip to check them out after dark when they are illuminated), an alabaster workshop,  and the town's ancient arch that German soldiers in WWII were ordered to blow up as they evacuated the city. The townspeople spent the night filling in the arch with stones from the streets so that it was impassable,  (which was the goal of blowing it up), thus convincing the soldiers to leave the next morning without destroying the arch.