Visit San Gimignano and Volterra from Florence
You will be picked up from your hotel or location in downtown Florence. Enjoy views of the scenic, rolling countryside on your 1-hour drive to San Gimignano. The beautiful stronghold of San Gimignano is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tuscany. It is a treasure of medieval architecture, frozen in time at 1300 AD. Above all, it is famous for its ancient towers, which still stand out on its skyline, earning it the nickname "Manhattan of the Middle Ages."
Discover the city on your own, with insider tips on where to find the best locally made gelato or local Vernaccia wine. Visit the historic Piazza del Duomo, and admire the stunning frescoes and stonework inside the Collegiata Church and Sant'Agostino.
Climb to the town's highest point to take in the distinctive medieval towers, and soak up the colourful atmosphere in the sunny Piazza della Cisterna.
Visit Piazza della Cisterna, which dates back to 1287. It is located precisely in the centre of the city, at the crossroads of the two main streets of the upper medieval village. While the city's Piazza del Duomo served as both a religious and political centre, Piazza della Cisterna was instead used as a local market and as a stage for social gatherings, parties, and tournaments.
See the collegiate basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, also known as La Collegiata, which is one of the six most beautiful monuments to admire in San Gimignano. It is the main centre for Catholic worship in San Gimignano and home to the parish of the same name. Located in Piazza del Duomo, it stands at the top of a sweeping staircase from which the western side of the square dominates. It was perhaps erected in 1056 and subsequently consecrated in 1148.
Continue your journey towards Volterra and stroll through the winding, cobbled streets to reach a remarkable array of historical sites. You will see incredible discoveries such as Etruscan tombs built hundreds of years before Christ, elaborate Roman baths, and an astonishing theatre excavated in the rock. Twilight saga fans should not miss Volterra's setting in the movie New Moon, where dramatic scenes were shot against the backdrop of stone walls, historic squares, and ramparts.
Take some time to explore the boutiques and workshops that line the streets. You will be able to see how alabaster stone is worked by hand in famous works of art from Volterra. Choose the perfect place for lunch, as the area has charming restaurants and trattorias, or you can arrange a meal at a nearby farmhouse.
See the Fortezza Medicea of Volterra, which was built on the highest point of the hill overlooking the town. As you approach Volterra, you can see its imposing structure. The fortress is composed of two sections, the Old Rocca and the New Rocca, joined by a long curtain wall with corbels, forming a large square inside. The New Rocca was commissioned by Lorenzo de Medici on the site where the Palazzo dei Vescovi once stood, which was later destroyed by the Florentines in 1472.
The Palazzo dei Priori is located in the piazza of the same name. The edifice was built around 1200 by the bishops who ran the city, and it is the oldest civic building in Tuscany. This marvellous building and the main square of Volterra have always been among the favourite places to visit in the city.
Discover the medieval walls of Volterra, built in 1200. Construction started at the turn of the century during the consular regime as a process of remodelling and strengthening the Etruscan wall. It later continued methodically until 1254, the year in which the city of Florence captured Volterra.
At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your place.
