Volterra is…
hauntingly beautiful and magically captivating
a vibrant off-the-beaten-track hill town
both “fortress” and “port”: proud of its identity and welcoming to others
a place we call home
seeped in history
Tuscany’s best kept secret.
Volterra is…
Tuscany’s oldest continuously-inhabited town, with settlements documented since 1,500 B.C.E.
With a resident population around 10,000 Volterra is a “big small town” by local standards, with a service-based economy focused on the local hospital, schools, banks, agriculture and the arts… and also tourism.
the perfect base for your stay in Tuscany
The town is essentially a microcosm of the historical developments of the region, and thus enables you to better understand Tuscany as a whole in a context that is, at the same time, a soothing respite from the tourist crowds that overtake the region’s more conventional destinations.
Situated in the middle of the triangle formed by the cities of Pisa, Siena and Florence, Volterra is truly in the heart of Tuscany.
Surrounded by rolling patchwork hills, on clear days you can see the Mediterranean Sea (and the islands of Capraia and Corsica) on the horizon. From Volterra you can easily make day-trips to the beach, to the wineries and hamlets of Chianti, and to cities throughout the region… but after just a few hours in Volterra, many decide to simply stay put!
With a one-hour drive (or less) you can reach San Gimignano, Colle Val d’Elsa, Monteriggioni, Certaldo, Siena, Pisa, Bolgheri and the coast.
With a drive of a little over an hour you can reach Florence, Lucca, Montalcino, and one of our favorite places, Populonia & Baratti.
Volterra was…
One of Tuscany’s most powerful and populous cities from the late Iron Age until just a few centuries ago.
There are important vestiges from Volterra’s past as an influential Etruscan city, but the feel of the town today is strongly Medieval.
To learn more about Volterra – from the past to the present- check out these free videos
Tuscan Tour 