More of Tuscany...................17 June

Short drive back to Cortona this morning - Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed here. Cortona is described as 'one of the jewels of Tuscany' and I would agree with that. It sits on a mountain spur facing south towards Lake Trasimeno and the views from Cortona are simply stunning. We were there early before the crowds so we had a really good wander. Pienza was our next stop - we enjoyed visiting it last time we just had to go back. It did not disappoint this time either - it is our favourite place in Tuscany. We revisited the doll shop and bought some more exquisite fairytale dolls - they really are a work of art. The views from here were wonderful, as they are from all hilltop towns. As lovely as these towns are to visit, by the time you park and walk up the hill in 30+ temps - it gets very hot and exhausting. We had a couple more on our list but we just did a drive by - Montalcino and Pitigliano. Pitigliano has to be seen to be believed - you ask yourself why on earth did they build on the cliff face - absolutely stunning to see. Slowly making our way south to Rome tomorrow we stopped for the night in a little town just outside of Orvieto.

Ann