volterra

For us this town is all about the artists working in alabaster, that chalky, white stone that is softer than marble from which intricate decorative sculpture as well as plates & bowls are shaped. We have bought a pair of lamps with a lovely translucence that diffuses a gentle glow. Creatively, window panes worked into thin transparent sheets are employed around town. The valley that Volterra sits in is surrounded by an enchanting and always-changing landscape. The centre of town boasts of its Etruscan and Roman heritage with battlements and portals still standing and a superb archeological park on a hilltop offers ruins to be explored. We love the magnificent portals crafted in Medieval Times, the best of which is the Porta-dell'Arco which is incorporated into the walls themselves. The mount that saw the founding of the city can be seen from great distances, as is the imposing mass of the Medici Rocca, a fortress that is softened by its graceful shaped bell towers that stand out from the silhouette of the houses. Our frequent trips to Volterra have proved that this one of the most vivacious and creative cities in Italy. Walking here is like being deposited into medieval times with an abundance of towers and palazzos bound together by the yellow-grey sandstone. The favourite building for us is the 3rd century palazzo dei priori, the oldest in the region.

Volterra is one of those must-see cities in Tuscany. We parked at the bottom of the hill and hiked up -- and it was a hearty walk, with more up and down once you're in the city proper! We loved it, however....and had a wonderful time wandering through the shops, visiting the sites, and eating in a piazza. The shopping here is lovely -- leisurely and lots of great shops...and I'm not a shopper! I think most tourists would like it here and enjoy the lovely views across the countryside.

Love Volterra, always have! It's just a short distance from San Gimignano, so I always include a stay there (at the Albergo Villa Nencini). Spectacular views, great restaurants, and good shopping!

Here you can walk around and admire the traditional houses. You can go into the cathedral and watch its fabulous golden ceiling.

Nice small town and wonderful surrounding hills.Very lively but less crowded with tourists than other small towns in Toscana.

It was a fantastic tour of the ENEL geothermic plant and museum near Pomerance Pisano.It was low cost & mega interesting. Massimo treated us to Italian appetizers in a quaint village after the tour - very authentic.Massimo is a certified 'guida ambientale' fluent in English, passionate and knowledgeable.He can be reached at massimogazzarri@yahoo.it

That's what we love about Europe. Sort of. We took a day trip to Volterra from Florence. It was a bit of a bust. First of all, it takes 1 ½ hours to get there. Then, in late November, many shops and restaurants are closed. The restrooms are only open on the weekend. The country side scenery en route is lovely, of course. The town is charming. The outdoor Etruscan amphitheater is cool. The Etruscan Museum has loads of burial urns and an ancient statue. But at 14 euro it is a bit steep. TIP: Take a guide and go another time of the year so you can appreciate everything we missed.

Following a Tuscan farmhouse luncheon we visited Volterra....WOW! We drove up narrow winding mountain roads and Volterra appeared! There were churches castles old ruins and an actual functioning city. There were absolutely beautiful luxe shops w leathers alabaster and gourmand delights! The views from the top of Volterra are magnificent and commanding miles and miles of green countryside! In a heartbeat I would definitely return to Volterra bcuz I left my heart in Volterra!!!

This is a lovely, typically Italian, hill town. It is a maze of streets with little shops and gorgeous views. You just need time to wander and absorb the atmosphere!

We were driven to Volterra but our guide who said this was his favorite town in Tuscany and where he would love to live! I agreed with him - this a lovely ancient town with wonderful windy cobblestone streets and great views. It wasn't as crowded as other places we visited and had a fantastic amphitheater! The Etruscan Gate there was amazing as was the Etruscan Acropolis on the hill. The town had such charm and authenticity - we really loved our time there!

I learned that Volterra was as known as NYC and Hong Kong long time ago!some scenes of twilight movie were taken hereIt is really a beautiful city, for people who like culture it must be seen also the kids were impressed

We were in Tuscany, and our daughters would like to see where the Twilight saga was filmed. Well, let's visit it for an hour or so. We stayed there for more than one hour. So nice, so much to see.It is a very old town on the top of a hill. Driving towards Volterra it is a very nice sight. We parked just outside the walls near the remains of the Roman theatre and entered the town through the ancient gate (the old doors were stil there). What a surprise. It is just as if you were in Medieval times. Old narrow streets, lots of small shops (alabast everywhere!).

This little town was amazing with nice cobble stone and narrow streets. This is where they also filmed some scenes from the movie Twilight. Nice little restaurants and great alabaster souvenirs.It sits on top of a hill with lovely views and not far from Pisa.

Old walled city. Very picturesque and not as busy as San Gimignano. A little farther away from Borgo Corte Fredda, but well worth it.

The trip to Volterra was exciting as the city was in 550m high, surrounded by Tuscany's fine vineyards. The parking lot was easy to find. The medieval streets of Volterra had almost magical feeling and from every corner you'll find a nice restaurant or a souvenir shop. Highly recommended - we really enjoyed our visit.