Just 29 km from San Gimignano was sheltered open to all the winds of the medieval Volterra (Volterra) . And if the first Tuscan city became famous for its towers, then Volterra is considered the fiefdom of unique archaeological sites - scattered around the historic center of utopted sites with ancient avenues, stairs and columns , which for several centuries have supported the sky instead of the antique, decorated with stucco ceiling . Complement the zest to the surrounding landscapes of the traditional Tuscan hills and valleys, on which scarlet drops upset the delicate poppies .

Tourists who come to Volterra for a weekend or several hours usually leave here with full pockets of artifacts: pseudo-Etruscan finds and alabaster figures from local stores.

Writer Stephanie Meyer placed in Volterra, the action of his popular novel "New Moon". However, to look for the right angle for the photo of the same area where the tearful scene of the unification of the vampire Edward with the simple mortal Bella took place for a long time and unsuccessfully. Despite the fact that Mayer described Volterra, the film was filmed in the town of Montepulciano, which is located 100 km from it.

The information office is located on the Piazza dei Priori square. Opening hours: 10: 00-13: 00 and 14: 00-18: 00. Here you can take a map of the city, specify the hours of work of museums, schedule buses and trains, pick up a hotel and buy an audio guide around the city for 5 EUR

Map of Volterra

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How to get there

By buses CPT buses you can get to the nearby town of Saline (9 km to the south-east, 1, 5-2 EUR, 20 minutes), where the nearest railway station is Volterra. station. From there you can take the bus to Pisa (5-7 EUR, on the way 2 hours) and Cecina (3-5 euros), to which there are also trains.

To get to San Jiminyano (5 EUR, on the way 1, 5 hours), Siena (5 EUR, 1, 5 hours) and Florence (7-9 EUR, 2 hours) will have to make a transfer in Colle di Val d'Elsa (to which only 50 minutes and about 3 euros).

Travelers with their own cars, it is worth bearing in mind that parking and driving inside city walls is a dangerous business, as there are many sites where travel is allowed only by local people (they are watched by video cameras for numbers and then they send a fine). Outside the walls parking is easy to find, it is free of charge, there is a large underground parking for 4 floors on Piazza Martiri della Libertà, which is also a bus station.

Search for air tickets to Pisa (nearest Volterra airport)

A bit of history

Volterra is one of the main centers of the Etruscans, which has preserved the walls of the 4th century BC. e. In addition, here you can see fragments of gates, necropolises and more than 600 funeral urns

When the invasion of Italy by Hannibal, the inhabitants of the city took the side of Rome. And after the wars of the Sullans and Marians, they were granted Roman citizenship. Since the 12th century, Volterra was ruled as a free commune, defending its independence from the Florentines. And since 1361, the Medici family has gone to share the fate of Florence

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Volterra

The Russian traveler Muratov visited Volterra in the beginning of the 20th century:

Volterra is a dark, gloomy in its extreme antiquity . It's built up all cumbersome and hard . Wild mountain peasants in cloaks of coarse cloth crowded in its streets in the days of bazaars and holidays . In the guise of them it seems something not Italian that took cover from the beneficial remodeling of the Renaissance and preserve oh, the features of the fantastically ancient race . Volterra is one of the Etruscan cities, and even if it did not have a remarkable museum of antiquities and beautifully preserved walls, it would by its very spirit remain one of the clearest evidence of this mysterious nation . Her palazzo dei Priori, her piazza Maggiore, her surviving towers, her surviving numerous battlements in the palaces and loopholes in the walls show a rare sight in the picturesque scenery . Everything that is lost in the vanished quarters of old Florence, the traveler find here .
П. P. Muratov, "Images of Italy"

After such words, it's time to throw everything and flee to Volterra (at least mentally). What we will do, immersed in the description of the unique sights of this ancient city

Kinds of Volterra

Main square - dei Priori - draws attention to its architectural ensemble dominated by the city council palace - the oldest in the city Tuscany. Also worth paying attention to the cathedral of the 10th century, which has been rebuilt many times and today pleases tourists with works of Florentine artists quattrocento. Baptistery (1283) is attached to it.

Other attractions: the Medici Castle (1343), the Museum of Sacred Art (consisting of three rooms), the Etruscan Museum (one of the best in Europe), the Pinakothek in a 14th-century building, Roman amphitheater of the 10th century BC. e. (the entrance is 2 euros). Two museums and Pinakothek can be visited by one combined ticket, which costs 8 EUR

Photo of Volterra (11)