Colle di Val d'Elsa, Tuscany and Orvieto, Umbria

After the Andrea Bocelli concert in Tuscany, we stayed overnight in Colle di Val d'Elsa, about three hours away.  We didn't get to the hotel until about 4:30 am, after leaving the concert around 1:00.  I slept for a blissful two hours, and then got up at 6:30, showered, and had a quick breakfast.  Not wanting to miss a minute, as soon as I was ready I left my bags in the hotel and left to go wander around the village.  Colle di Val d'Elsa is a small medieval town with a pretty old chapel up on a hillside. 

 Just outside our hotel is a small Crystal Museum.  The hillsides around Tuscany are famous for crystal mining.

 Lonely, quiet steps at a small church.

 Tunnel built into the hillside with an elevator that takes you right to the top, smack in the middle of the medieval village up top.

 Colle di Val d'Elsa!

 Tiny doorway.

 The doorways and doorknockers in Italia are lovely.  I keep telling D we should commission some funky iron doorknockers before we leave, for our future house (someday!).

 Gattino!

 Walking around so early in the morning has its perks.  I had the whole place to myself!

 Down at the bottom of the hill looking up.

So, after wandering around the village, we headed to the town of Orvieto on the bus.  It's about a two hour drive and I definitely napped!

 When you drive into Orvieto (another hilltop town), you arrive at the bottom and have to take a funiculare to the top. 

 My neighbor B with our new friend, G.

 Walking towards the town center.

 Many regions of Italy are famous for their ceramiche!

 Loved these doors!

 Cinghiale, or wild boar, is a common food in this region.  Delicious!

 Clock tower in the center of town.  Those are crests of important townsfolk hanging on the sides of the tower!

 Purely for silly tourists - Venezia is many, many km north and Carnivale is in February!

 Town Hall of Orvieto

 Lovely, quiet little Baroque church with foundations dating to the Etruscan civilization that called this hilltop home once!

 Walking towards the cathedral.

 The cathedral in Orvieto is world-renowned for its unique art.  Not only is is lavishly ornate inside, but its outside is just as beautiful!  And it's a work in progress - artists are still adding to it even today!

 The Tree of Jesse.

 The piazza in front of the cathedral.

 I'm a big fan of Celtic knots!

 "The Wizard of Oz" toy shop!  So funky!  Great stuff going back decades!  More a toy store for adults, I think!

 I went for a walk by myself through the residential areas of the town towards the outer walls.  It was quiet and peaceful.

 Simple and pretty doors on an old carriage house.

 Dragons!

 Neat, narrow little museum.

 Looking down upon the inner garden of a few apartments.  I love the green roof they've got going for privacy!

 Can I move in here, please?

 Looking down to Umbria.

 And the other way.

 Inner courtyard (I was totally trespassing to take this picture).

 I thought this was the cutest little balcony ever.  It's got to be maybe 2' x 3'!

 Met the gals for lunch!

 Me, B, and T.

 H was talking with our waiter, Perseone (Greek guy, named after Perseus - so cool!).

 B's toast with shaved black truffle.  Ridiculous!  That's sexy food!

 H was a very popular lady!  Here she is with our other server, Fabio.  Yes, Fabio.  I kid you not.  Italy is ridiculous.

 Kitty/Doggy bowl!  Love Orvieto!  Thank you for taking care of your stray kitties and puppies!

 Outer gate, back at the funicular.  Sad to leave you, Orvieto!  You're lovely!

Almost home and we hit a downpour!  Yay, relief from the heat!