ITALY
We often say Volterra is our favorite Italian hillside town. It ticks all the boxes for us, beautifully preserved, with just enough tourism. Far enough away. Not to be overrun by crowds. There are plenty of good restaurants, cafes, bars and traffic free. It truly is a gem in Tuscany, more precisely, in the province of Pisa, with Its beautiful location on a 55°-meter-high hill overlooking some spectacular scenery. It’s medieval streets picturesque Squares and boutique shops.
In this guide, we will cover the best things to do in *****Volterra with tips to help you plan your visit. *****places to stay and how to get to Volterra
Plan Your Adventure
These are our favorite companies we use when planning a trip, they consistently have the best prices, great customer service, and overall, are better than their competitors.
SKYSCANNER – we always start here and usually always finish here.
TRAINLINE – this site is very reliable and easy to use.
ROME2RIO – the website allows you to travel from city to city the best and cheapest way.
FLIXBUS – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries, with usually the best deals.
CAR RENTAL – We recommend using Discover Cars or RentalCars.com to compare rate
BOOKING.com – is our go to for hotel searches around the world, we find they always have the cheapest rates.
HOSTELWORLD – is great if you’re traveling on a budget, and if you need a cheap place to stay.
ARC’TERYX– is a go-to reliable brand for outdoor adventure and travel, their wide range includes lightweight, durable, easy to clean travel gear.
SIGHTSEEING TOURS – Get Your Guide is our favorite; they have stacks of tours and excursions available in cities all over the world.
TRAVEL INSURANCE – WorldNomads.com offer some of the most competitive prices online. World Nomads will let you purchase insurance when your already travelling.
General information about Volterra.
Volterra is a small town in Italy with about 10,000 inhabitants and, moreover, it is one of the most important ****places to visit in Tuscany****thanks to the old Town, and amazing landscape. The town is about 30 kilometers from the sea, 60 kilometers from **Pisa**. And 30 kilometers to San Gimignano.
Volterra has been inhabitant since the 8th century BC, first by the Etruscans and later by the Romans. The Etruscans mined alabaster from the nearby hills. Artisans crafted the alabaster into vases, urns, sculptures and other decorative objects while in Volterra, touring an alabaster museum or shopping for alabaster is one of the best things to do.
With the narrow medieval streets, ancient walls, and fortress. Volterra makes an appearance in quite a few movies, books and video games. If you have watched the Twilight series, you’ve no doubt seen Volterra. In the series, Volterra is home to the Volturi, a clan of vampires that rule the world’s vampires. However, many of the Volterra scenes of the new moon were filmed in *** Montepulcino*** link.
Best things to do in Volterra
One of our favorite things to do is wander the picture postcard streets of Volterra. Many of the top places to visit are clustered around Piazza dei Priori, but it is worth your time to explore all the side streets that branch out from this area.
With fewer people, small shops and restaurants, and views over Tuscany as you approach the edge of town It’s well worth the time to explore the side streets.
Piazza and Palazzo dei Priori
Beautiful and one of the must-see places in Volterra. These large open squares form the heart of the Old Town and enchants its visitors with an incredibly charming ambience. While having coffee in one of the cozy cafe bars, you can soak up the unique atmosphere.
Small restaurants line a portion of the square, you can go shopping in an alabaster shop and climb the tower of the Palazza dei Priori for a spectacular view of Volterra.
Climb the tower
Palazzo de Priori is the town hall of Volterra. Construction began around 120 and was completed by the middle of the 13th century AD. This town hall is the oldest in Tuscany.
When you enter, purchase a ticket on the Volterra card or show your Volterra card if you already have one. On the first few levels of the Palazza dei Priori, you can tour some of the rooms learn more about the history of this building.
From the top floor of palazzo you will climb 52 steps to the top of the tower. From the top you have a 360° view of Volterra and the rolling hills of Tuscany.
Walls and city gates.
The walls and gates that surround Volterra are amongst the most important attractions in Volterra. The Old Town is almost completely enclosed by the medieval city wall from the 13th century parts of even date back to the Etruscan era. Also fascinating the other six ancient gates that still provide access to the city today.
Porto dell Arco is the oldest city gate and dates to the 5th century. It is located just a short walk from Piazzetta Dei Fornelli from this gate, it is a short steep walk to the Piazza Dei Priori.
Roman Theatre.
In Volterra, you can see one of the best preserved Roman theatres in Italy. Sitting on the North End of town, this Roman theatre dates back to the 1st century AD.
It was discovered only in 1950 during archaeological excavation. From Via Lungo Le Mura del Mandorlo, you can get a terrific view of the Roman theatre. This is a great option if you don’t want to visit the theatre but still want to see it. It is only a short walk from Porta Fiorentina.
ETRUSCAN MUSEUM
To learn about the Etruscans who founded Volterra, this museum is well worth the visit. Founded in 1761, it is actually one of the oldest museum in Europe, and contains archaeological artifacts from the Etruscan period.
CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA
A beautiful attraction in Volterra is the cathedral, also known as the cathedral of Assumption of the virgin Mary. The history of this church dates back to the 9th century, it had to be rebuilt after the earthquake in 1117.
The inside of the cathedral is real highlight, here you will find impressive frescos, paintings and precious green and white marble and alabaster works from the region.
Sitting across from the Baptistery is the Baptistry of San Giovanni Battista, an octagonal building with green and white marble stripes that vaguely resembles the Siena Duomo.
VISIT AN ALABASTER SHOP
Since Volterra is famous for its alabaster, one of the best things to do in Volterra is go shopping for alabaster. As you stroll through town you will see numerous shops.
SHOPPING
In Volterra, small boutique shops line the street. Alabaster is one of the top things to buy, you will also see artwork, cutting boards and home goods carved from olive wood. Shops selling truffles and olive oil, and other souvenirs.
Every Saturday from 8am to 1pm Volterra hosts a huge weekly market where you can taste some delicious Italian delicacies.
Where to stay?
***Hotel Volterra Inn.***
Located in the heart of town, Hotel Volterra offers comfortable and elegant accommodation with a touch of local charm. The hotel provides a delicious breakfast buffet, Wi-Fi and rooftop terrace with a stunning view.
***Hotel La Locanda.****
We stayed here on our last overnight stay the rooms, the staff, and breakfast can’t be faulted. Located right in the middle of the Old Town, surrounded by plenty of restaurants and cafes.
***Residence Storio. Palazzo Riccardelli.
Is a truly unique accommodation in Volterra. Guests love the antique furnishings and flair.
***Apartment Costello.***
Truly is a charming location with quality furnishings 50 metres from covered car parking. It has been nicely renovated in an old building. Also featured garden and city views.
Where to eat?
Panineria al Vicolino is the best place to grab a quick and tasty lunch. On the menu are some of the best paninis you will have in Italy.
Restaurant II Sacco Fiorentino.
The young family that runs this lovely restaurant in the very centre of Volterra have spiced up the Tuscan menu with international touches and made it moderately priced and friendly hangout.
Restaurant La Vecchia Lira
In the very heart of Volterra, restaurant La Vecchia Lira offers local delicatessen, both fish and meat based.
Restaurant Vecchia Osteria Dei Ponti.
Traditional restaurant in the heart of Volterra, set in the medieval building. Here you will enjoy the scents and flavours of typical local dishes.
Osteria La Pace
is a highly rated restaurant located near the Medici Fortress on the east side of town. This small restaurant has outdoor seating and is less touristy than the restaurant in the town centre.
Getting to Volterra.
By car
The easiest way to get to Volterra is by ‘rental’ car.
Driving distances from nearby destinations.
Florence 80 km 1.5hours
Siena 55km 1 hour
Pisa 65km 1 hour
San Gimignano 31km 40 min
Compare prices on different car hire, I recommend using ‘Discover Cars’ or “Rentalcars.com’.
Parking in Volterra.
The best place to park is Parcheggio La Dogana Sri, which is an underground parking garage located next to Piazza Matri Della Liberata.
Train
The closest train station to Volterra. Volterra Saline-Pomarance which is about 10km from Volterra. To get there from the train station, you will then have to take a bus (20-minute journey) or a taxi.
Bus.
Several bus companies operate routes to Volterra from major Tuscan cities such as Florence, Siena and Pisa. The buses are very reliable and offer a convenient way to reach the town without the hassle of driving.
Tours of Volterra
If you don’t plan on “renting” a car while in Tuscany, you can visit Volterra or on a tour. This takes care of your transportation to and from Volterra which can save you a lot of time, since Volterra is not easily reachable.
Here are several tours of Volterra
San Gimignano Volterra Private
Volterra San Gimignano tour of
Day trip wine tour San Gimignano
With food with and
And wine lunch Volterra
Places to Visit near Volterra.
Not only is Volterra worth a trip, if you don’t mind a quick visit and want to see more of Tuscany, you could add another town. Plan on spending 1/2 day in Volterra and half a day in one of these towns.
***San Gimignano*** is located just a short drive from Volterra, famous for its numerous towers and very scenic streets.
***Sienna*** is a must in Tuscany there is a lot to do, so ideally you need a full day to see the highlights, but if you are not short on time you can visit the main ***sites.***
***Monteriggioni*** is a small, walled town that sits between Volterra and Sienna. You only need a couple of hours to visit this town so it’s a perfect ad on after a visit to Volterra.
How much time do you need in Volterra
At a minimum, plan on spending 1/2 day in Volterra. This gives you just enough time to visit a few highlights. However, you could easily spend a full day in Volterra, which gives you enough time to visit the museums and have lunch and dinner, see the Roman theatre and go shopping.
More places to see in Tuscany.
Please email us with any questions to Gary and Sally at [email protected]
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