Volterra, Tuscany
Start your day 🌅 with a scenic one-and-a-half-hour drive through the green Tuscan hills 🌿, enjoying breathtaking panoramas that will stay in your memory, before immersing yourself in the magic of Volterra 🏛️.
Stroll through winding cobbled streets and discover extraordinary historical treasures, from Etruscan tombs built centuries before Christ, to elaborate Roman baths, and even a theater carved into the rock 🎭.
Twilight fans will love visiting the movie locations, where dramatic scenes from New Moon were filmed among ancient walls, charming squares, and historic ramparts.
Take time to explore boutiques and artisan workshops 🛍️, watching how alabaster is handcrafted into Volterra’s famous works of art.
Finally, enjoy lunch 🍽️ at one of the local restaurants, personally recommended and reserved by your driver if you wish, for a truly carefree experience.
Medieval walls of Volterra
Volterra’s medieval city walls 🏰 were built in the 1200s, beginning at the dawn of the century during the consular regime.
Constructed as a reconstruction and strengthening of the ancient Etruscan walls, they were carefully extended and reinforced over the years.
Their strategic importance is evident, culminating in 1254, when the city of Florence conquered Volterra, leaving a mark on its storied history.
Medici fortress Volterra
Rising majestically as you approach Volterra, the fortress dominates the highest terrace of Mount Volterra 🏰.
It consists of two connected buildings, the Rocca Antica and the Rocca Nuova, joined by a double curtain wall and crowned with a balcony supported by arches, known as the Cammino di Ronda. Inside, it opens onto a spacious central square.
The Rocca Nuova, the newer part of the fortress, was built by Lorenzo de’ Medici on the site of the former Palazzo dei Vescovi, which had been destroyed by the Florentines in 1472.
Palazzo dei priori
The Palazzo dei Priori, along with the square of the same name 🏛️, was built around 1200 by the bishops who governed the city.
This imposing palace and its eponymous square are considered the very heart of Volterra ❤️, a place where the city’s history comes alive.
With its medieval architecture and high Middle Ages charm 🏺, the square has always been one of the city’s most iconic symbols, a must-visit for anyone exploring Volterra.
San Gimignano
Our final stop of the day is the beautiful walled town of San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s most popular destinations. Known as a pearl of medieval architecture, the town has remained almost unchanged since the 1300s. San Gimignano is especially famous for its ancient towers, which dominate the skyline and have earned it the nickname the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages.”
Take time to wander the charming streets, admire historic buildings, and don’t miss the famous Dondoli Gelateria, awarded multiple times for producing some of the best ice cream in the world. After exploring San Gimignano, we head back to Florence, completing your full day of Tuscan discovery.
Piazza della Cisterna, San Gimignano
Piazza della Cisterna, dating back to the 13th century, lies at the very heart of San Gimignano, at the crossroads of the town’s two main medieval streets. While Cathedral Square served both religious and political purposes—home to the Collegiate Church and the Podestà’s palaces—Piazza della Cisterna was historically the town’s lively center for markets, festivals, and medieval tournaments. Today, it remains one of the most atmospheric squares in Tuscany, where history and daily life seamlessly blend.
Duomo di San Gimignano
Collegiate Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta (San Gimignano Cathedral)
The Collegiate Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, also known as the Duomo of San Gimignano, is one of the town’s most remarkable monuments and its main place of Catholic worship. Located in Piazza del Duomo, it stands at the top of a wide staircase, overlooking the western side of the square. Probably founded in 1056 and solemnly consecrated in 1148, the church represents a magnificent example of medieval architecture and is a must-see highlight during any visit to San Gimignano.
