Hill top village

I don't usually take 'views', but this one was irresistible. Italian hilltop towns in Tuscany can be

beautiful to look at for the visitor, and are even more picturesque in winter, so I'm told - if

you can get to them that is. The dwindling numbers of inhabitants (the young of whom leave

for the cities and jobs) are sometimes virtually trapped for the worst months as the roads

are all but impassable, and the small allotments that dot the hillsides are unworkable until the

spring. This is ancient Crasciana, off the main road between Lucca and the ski slopes of

Abetone. With a population now of just over 200, the village dates back to at least 918 and

once had defensive fortifications (partly demolished in the 17th cent. when its military garrison

was disbanded). An agreeable 'tradition' has recently arisen among many of these villages

whereby the old public wood burning ovens, usually in the main square, are fired up again -

pizzas! - for a public feast in aid of the poor of the community. If you're there, you're invited!

I don't usually take 'views', but this one was irresistible. Italian hilltop towns in Tuscany can be

beautiful to look at for the visitor, and are even more picturesque in winter, so I'm told - if you

can get to them that is. The dwindling numbers of inhabitants (the young of whom leave for

the cities and jobs) are sometimes virtually trapped for the worst months as the roads are all

but impassable, and the small allotments that dot the hillsides are unworkable until the spring.

This is ancient Crasciana, off the main road between Lucca and the ski slopes of Abetone.

With a population now of just over 200, the village dates back to at least 918 and once had

defensive fortifications (partly demolished in the 17th cent. when its military garrison was

disbanded). An agreeable 'tradition' has recently arisen among many of these villages whereby

the old public wood burning ovens, usually in the main square, are fired up again - pizzas! - for

a public feast in aid of the poor of the community. If you're there, you're invited!

On a Tuscan hilltop