The highest inhabited point you can see from Pienza is the town of Radicofani (pronounced Radi-co-fahn-ee). It's about 20 km from Pienza as the crow flies but 35 km by car.
The hill seems impossibly high. We find it hard to believe that when we were younger, we rode our bikes to the town...twice.
This time, we got a ride with Seattle friends Rebecca Fox and Bob Heller, who stopped by to visit for a few days.
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| Trying to decide whether to start an antique car collection |
The town has a distinctive look. All the buildings are stone with horizontal stripes of brick.
What makes the town unique, however, is the fortress that towers over everything...atop an impossibly steep hill.
In 1253, the rebels from the losing side in one of several Sienese civil wars, fled Siena and perched upon the highest hill they could find to defend themselves. Over the next few years, they built a fortress as further defense.
The signs in town told us it was a 15 minute walk up to the fortress (La Rocca).
It was a 15 minute walk
...for a mountain goat
The fortress is almost 800 years old and still standing.
Inside, the pictures tell the story...
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| The cistern to store water in case of seige |
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| Carving over dungeon entrance |
And...as always...the view from the fortress to the valley below wasn't too bad...
you make great goats! Loving the pictures and stories!!!
ReplyDeleteLike Jodilyn, I'm loving your pictures and descriptive stories. I especially liked seeing Rebecca and Bob in this post, and the breathtaking valley view from the fortress.
ReplyDeleteWe are so glad that you are reading our blogposts. We miss everyone,but truly are having the adventure of a lifetime. Right now I am sitting outside a local restaurant using their WIFI. It is family owned and the son who does most of the "wait staff" type work due to his personality, jsut came out and asked me if he could bring me a cup of coffee. It is 10am and the restuarant opens at noon for lunch. We sit here many mornings, as their food is really good and we have actually eaten here twice, once alone and one with friends from Seattle who visited for a few days. BTW, he was not selling me a cup of coffee. Everyone is jsut so nice. The town is small enough that everyone knows we are here for 9 weeks and treats us like neighbors, inlcuding the three little women who knit outside our apt every afternoon and who will not let anyone take their photos.
DeleteLove the pictures and the commentary - it's my vicarious trip to Italy.....still have not been there but sometime soon!! I agree with Susan - the view from the fortress is something else! Love to Roger.
ReplyDeleteWe like to think of it as "ridiculous - fani" You guys were going to try to go there when we were together (and Greg and I chose a different plan for that day). Did you go? I can't remember... Looks splendid :)
ReplyDeleteWe did when we were your age...not this trip yet. We have climbed harder hills, I believe.
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