Radicofani

We live near such a cute village, but sometimes we don't spend any time there. Maybe it's just too close and we take it for granted. This morning we took a walk up and down the hill, stopping at Joe's favorite cookie shop and peeking in windows. We looked at my favorite terrace gardens and stopped to chat with Nadia, our housekeeper, who popped out of a shop when she saw us passing by.

Today we decided to go up to the top of the hill to walk through the fortress we can see from our house in the valley below. It was foggy and windy up at the top of Radicofani, which is on an extinct volcano. As high as the town sits, the fortress is even higher--offering amazing views across the Val d'Orcia and as far as the eye can see. We've tried to go there a few times, but it was under construction for a couple of years, then it was closed twice when we tried again. This time it was open and we were the first to arrive.

There is a bar and restaurant at the ticket booth where you can enjoy coffee, a snack or lunch. They even claim to make homemade pasta. Perhaps we'll try that next time.

The centerpiece of the fort is the giant stone tower. It's possible to climb the steps all the way up, stopping at each level to check out the small museum. It includes the history, since the 900s, of the fort, as well as some Etruscan pottery and other items found in area archaeological digs.

Even on a foggy day, it was well worth the trek up to the top.