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b"When Italy erupted in chaos after the fall of Rome, people moved to the high ground to escape the marauding barbarians of that dark age. Over time, hill towns such as Siena, Assisi, Volterra and San Marino were fortified and functioned as independent city states. Weakened by plague centuries later, Italy's hill towns became backwaters, stuck in the middle ages \\u2014 which makes them fascinating for travelers today. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series \\u2014 including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more \\u2014 visit www.ricksteves.com"