Hilltop Towns….yeah right

So I admit I have read over 20 books on Italy-Frances Mayes, DeBlasi, Franco, tourguides, tourbooks, language books, American goes Italian…blah blah…they always discuss the lovely “hilltop villages” , it sounds romantic, primitive, private yet homey, views to die for and more. What they DO NOT tell you is these AIN’T hills people-it’s the darn Italian Alps!!!

Remember, we are already squeeshed in a tiny rental car and we tried to save money by getting a stick shift. Driving up these tiny roads originally made for mules, not automobiles, can make “car sick” have an entire new meaning. Here in Tennessee in the Smoky Mtns we always know when a New Yorker or Floridian is in front of us because they just don’t drive very well in the mountains. We laugh and make fun of them…well, I can only imagine how WE were the topic of dinner conversations for every Italian who lives in the Lucca Region. Our little rental sputtered up these “hills” with hairpin curves and no guardrails. The hubby would grind the gears, then step on the gas cause someone “beeped” at him which he takes very personally! The girls would yell, then ask to please stop. We fought over who would get “shotgun” every time we would leave to go anywhere. Oh, and then we learned that you should “beep” to let others know you are arriving around the hairpin curves but we never figured out who was really responsible for pulling over seeing as there are no pull overs. In the Smoky Mtn National Park, there are a billion “pull over” areas for slow pokes but obviously these hilltop roads were build waaaaayyyyy before someone had that brillant idea! LESSON: Spend the extra money -rent the automatic and do not be afraid to beep.

So another suprise about sweet hilltop towns is…well you can drive to them but not in them! Parking in a car park requires a review lesson of the 3 point turn which actually becomes like a …ten point turn but who’s counting. Once you do park, please use the parking break-remember no guardrails! Put your walking shoes on…cause it could be a walk to whatever you are looking for in your “hilltop town”. LESSON: Review driving manual from when you were 16 years old.

So why bother? Why drive up a mountain, raise your blood pressure, get car sick, fight with your family to visit these towns…well, easy….the food, the people, the views…all that stuff I read about in the books..it’s all true (they just forget to tell you about the above..so now you know!)

So go….drive, yell, beep-PLAN your visit around these charming towns…San Gimignano is the hubby’s favorite, I like mine…Crasciana, population 64!

View from San Gimignano-Town of towers