Second on the 2nd: a trip to Tuscany

 

Many of you know I like to bring back a post that relates to the theme of the current host at Art Journal Journey.  And this month, our host is Alison Bomber, who many of you know as butterfly.  It's amazing that last month, my second look involved a challenge set by Alison.  This second look takes us back to 2019 and a trip to Tuscany.  I've eliminated the challenges I entered for this page but have kept most of the words intact.  I now give you:

 In the Tuscany Hills

 For this page, I included three towns in the hills of Tuscany.  

Our first stop is Orvieto.

This Tuscan town sits high atop a rocky perch.

Apparently, getting to the top where Orvieto sits is half the fun.  You have your choice of ascending by escalator or cable car. The strategically built town is free of modern-day traffic, which means there are no cars anywhere in Orvieto.

The entire town is filled with narrow streets, beautiful churches, a historic palace, and a maze of tunnels and caves, which includes an underground lifestyle.

 

Yes, we are visiting the hill towns in Tuscany today.

 

Our next stop is Cortona which is just a few miles from Sienna (a city visited in a previous post).  The city is enclosed by stone walls high on top of a Tuscan hill.   This hilltop town offers a panorama view of the entire countryside.  

Here I have shown the Piazza della Repubblica in Cortona.  Unfortunately, I typed Cortana in the text and delta instead of della.  Piazza della Repubblica is the main square and dates back to the Roman age.

In case you can't read it, or need to interpret:

Visit the tight-knit alleyways snaking out from its center of Piazza della Repubblica.  Don't forget to visit the 13th century town hall and the imposing cathedral.

For those who love literature, this is the town made famous by the novel Under the Tuscan Sun written by Frances Mayes.  Mayes still lives in Cortona throughout the year.
 

Only a few miles from both Sienna and Cortona is Assisi, a medieval jewel.  This includes the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi which was completed in 1253. 

 

The basilica, visible for miles, is built into the side of a hill and comprises two churches and a crypt where the remains of St. Francis of Assisi are interred. 

These two ladies are visiting these hilltop towns.

 

For this page, I began by spritzing my handmade shimmering mists on both sides of the substrate, which is 110 lb card stock. 

 

I outlined the edges around the images using my brand new Krylon Leafing Pen.  I computer generated the words and printed them on my laser printer.  I colored them using water soluble crayons.  I also printed a postcard back and cut it.  I used a metallic gel pen to write the words and address.  I secured the TH paper dolls securely to the ground so they didn't float.  Unfortunately, I didn't see the parts I was supposed to punch out before I glued them tightly to the page.

 

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I hope you enjoyed this look back at the sunny Tuscan countryside.

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit.  This link will be good until 4 p.m. my time on Monday afternoon when T Tuesday goes live.