Category: Destinations

Volterra AD 1398 The 3rd and 4th Sunday of August Volterra, one of the most popular Tuscan villages, jumps back to medieval times: animated by fiery warhorses, fearless knights, noblemen, ladies, artisans and merchants, common people and peasants, flag-wavers and crossbowmen, musicians and jesters if by magic they will bring back the mysterious and magic Middle Ages to Volterra. (Volterra AD 1398) The city of alabaster offers a very special program for this summer: medieval dinners, guided tours and, of course, tournaments crossbow and flag bearers. Volterra’s narrow streets will host old shops, like blacksmiths or carpenters, and you’ll have the unique chance to taste medieval specialities, such as the spicy wine or the lemon and honey drink. All the city’s inhabitants are going to wear Medieval dresses and to drive people into the party throughout the streets and squares: that’ll be surely surprising and extremely funny for kids! A one day trip in Volterra to enjoy its incredible artistic and historical heritage is a perfect choice in this occasion. Volterra is quite close to San Gimignano, moreover it belongs to the town of the Leaning Tower -under the territorial and legislative point of view- so you can choose Pisa as the base for your tour in Tuscany! Related links: • Discover Volterra : One of the Oldest Town in Tuscany • Volterra alabaster, a fine craftsmanship Where to Sleep We’ve pre-picked the best hotels, apartments hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. • Top 5 Apartments in Volterra Toscanamente I Tre Casali Casa Volterra Appartamenti Villa Mascagni Appartamento i Priori • Top 5 Hotels in Volterra Albergo Etruria Hotel Residence Villa Rioddi Hotel Volterra In Hotel La Locanda Il Vecchio Mulino • Top 5 B&B in Volterra B&B Podere Rivoltino di Sopra Villa Sant’Anastasio Luxury Agriturismo

Volterra is a gem of Etruscan, Roman, medieval and Renaissance art perched on a hill from where it governs the Cecina Valley. A simple stroll through the streets of the historical centre can reveal the city's artistic heritage. Today, it has a distinctly medieval look but its Etruscan stamp is still very much in evidence in a city whose name derives from the Etruscan Velathri, later adapted to the Latin Volaterrae. Traces from that period are found not only in the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, but also in the Acropolis and Necropolis of the archaeological areas of Vallebuona and Parco Enrico Fiumi. The Acropolis features structures that overlap the Etruscan, Roman and medieval ages. The Necropolis is chiefly interesting from a structural point of view: instead of developing upwards, graves are dug into the sandy soil, which explains why they are commonly known as Buche Etrusche (Etruscan Holes). The urban zone still holds traces of the Etruscan period in the form of the Porta all’Arco, set in the 5th-century B.C. wall, and in the Porta Diana, outside of the medieval belt. Roman archaeology can be seen in the remains of the 1st-century B.C. Theatre, where a Festival of theatre, music and poetry is held every summer. Set in the Vallebuona area, it still retains part of the seating, the floor with three large exedras and the remains of the covered portico, while part of the stage front has been rebuilt in contemporary style. The medieval hamlet developed around the nucleus of the Piazza dei Priori, where the unmistakable Palazzo dei Priori rises, with its façade featuring three rows of mullioned windows and crests of the Florentine magistrates. Some of the most outstanding features in the magnificent setting of the square are the Palazzo Pretorio with the Torre del Porcellino, former office