Another public bus from Lucca to Volterra (our two-night stay), which is where our Inn-to-Inn would start.

Volterra was a Stone Age settlement, enclosed within Etruscan and Medieval walls. It stands on a hill, and its two main industries are working of alabaster, and saltpans where table salt and soda are produced. All towns we visited were quite small, and easy to get around.

Day 1 was considered an arrival day. The bus stopped outside the arched gateway to the town and the Hotel San Lino was only a few minutes walk from there. View image Dinner was included the first night, and Sherpa recommended five different restaurants to choose from for the second night.

Day 2 - There were two options for the walk today: round trip from Bivio di Pignana and back to Volterra; and an easy walk from Volterra to Saline di Volterra with a return to Volterra by bus.

We picked the first option, an 18 km walk (goal-oriented is my middle name). Started off toward Pignano, a very small village (or hamlet) with 12th century walls. There were wonderful views of the countryside from it. Walked to Monte Voltraio for a little diversion, up past lovely old oaks. Sherpa's detailed instructions usually read something like this: "...Go left here, as the path winds past and between fallen trees. Once on the summit ridge, go left (south) for a grassy lookout point, much messed by sheep droppings." Don't say you weren't warned!

Wound through other footpaths and trails, olive fields, returning to Volterra.