Description

Volterra stands alone on a ridge above the Tuscan hills, and its history runs deeper than almost anywhere else in the region: Etruscan first, then Roman, then medieval, with each layer still visible in the streets.

A private day tour with a licensed local guide begins in Piazza dei Priori, laid out in the 13th century around the Palazzo dei Priori — the oldest town hall in Tuscany, still the seat of the municipality and home to the Civic Museum. Behind it stands the religious heart of the town, the Duomo and the Baptistery of San Giovanni.

Walking on to Porta Fiorentina, you reach the Roman Theatre of Vallebona, remarkably intact. The Guarnacci Museum, one of the oldest public museums in Europe, holds the Etruscan bronze known as the Ombra della Sera, the elongated figure that has become a symbol of the town. The day closes on the terrace of Piazza dei Martiri della Libertà, a natural balcony over the countryside — in the right light, the sea is visible on the horizon.

Highlights