From the back and inside the cathedral looks more typically Italian. It's a big barnlike structure that was tinkered with over six hundred years, so it doesn't really look like any particular style. We then walked back to the train station, and headed back to Florence.

The city, like Volterra, was run by a warrior bishop, but was annexed by Florence in the 14th century. The Medici then plopped a big fortress across from the cathedral to keep things under control. Strangely, this nexus of political and religious power is at the edge of the city, on the crest of the cliff. The area has now been turned into a very English looking park, and the cathedral has even been given an English belltower, although I don't think there's any connection to England. The park provides expansive views, and apparently only one bench for four strangers to share uncomfortably.

We had lunch at a nice outdoor cafe, with a memorably friendly waiter,then climbed around the city's medieval streets. Most of them were pedestrian only, and lined with lots of antique shops.

79. Arezzo

Today, Sunday, didn't go as planned as well. We were planning on hanging around Florence, cafe hopping, shopping, generally living La Dolce Vita. Unfortunately, it was raining and everything's closed on Sunday, so we reverted to Plan B, a train trip to Arezzo. Arezzo is about 1 1/2 hours east of Florence, our only foray into eastern Tuscany. It was surprisingly lively for a provincial town, especially on a Sunday. The entire town is built on a slope, with the train station at the bottom, the main piazza pictured here in the middle, and the cathedral and castle at top, whereupon it falls off a cliff. The piazza is sloped as well, and surrounded by elegant 15th century buildings.