7 Amazing Things To Do in the Tuscan Hill Town of Volterra Italy

Volterra is a beautiful hill town in Tuscany Italy.

Yes, I know.

You can say that about every hill town in Tuscany — or any town that doesn’t sit on a hill.

However there are enough things to do in Volterra that make it a wonderful place to actually stay for a couple of days and not just stop by for a few hours.

So it’s not just beautiful but has a bit of substance too.

Let’s find out where Volterra is in the amazing region of Tuscany.

Where exactly is Volterra?

This alluring hill town is located about 82km southwest of Florence and 55km northwest of Siena.

Volterra is part of the Province of Pisa.

Depending on the route you take it’s 70-100km from Pisa with its leaning tower.

Volterra sits in the rolling Tuscan hills so the landscape is sublime.

There are around 10,500 residents so it’s not a wee village but a good-sized town with enough in the way of tourist amenities.

And it has lots of history dating back to the Etruscans — the ancient people of Tuscany.

In fact, Volterra is a fabulous destination for those who want to experience the ancient history of the Etruscans, the history of Rome and the Medieval history of Europe including some Medici history.

I know.

Sign me up!

Spend some time in Piazza dei Priori and Palazzo dei Priori

At some point you’ll end up in the main piazza — town square — Piazza dei Priori.

It’s a wonderful spot to sit and people watch and spending time here is one of the things to do in Volterra that you simply cannot miss.

Remember: in Italy the piazza is where friends and family meet so spending time in a piazza in Italy is a way to observe the locals — and maybe even make some new friends.

The main building of this piazza is the Palazzo dei Priori which is now the town hall.

This particular palazzo is actually the oldest town hall in Tuscany.

I didn’t go into this magnificent building, but I should have as there are some beautiful spaces inside and some works of art.

So on my next visit to Volterra I’ll be sure to visit the palazzo.

Take in Etruscan history

As I mentioned in the intro, Volterra goes back to ancient times, around the 8th century BC.

The Etruscans were the people who lived throughout much of Tuscany and Umbria.

So, as you might imagine, there are some Etruscans ruins in Volterra.

In Parco Archeologico Enrico Fiumi you’ll see the Acropoli Etrusca ruins.

And parts of the city walls actually date back to Etruscan times between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.

I know.

That’s really old!

If you are really into the Etruscans then do visit the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum as it has an amazing collection of Etruscan artifacts.

Personally, I’ve not visited this museum but on my next visit I definitely will.

See?

Loads of things to do in Volterra!

Gaze at the Medici Fortress and wander the park that surrounds it

So from that park I just mentioned, Parco Archeologico Enrico Fiumi, you’ll see a fortress across the lawn.

This is the Fortezza Medicea, or the Medici Fortress.

Although it bears the name of the great Florentine family, it actually predates them by about a century.

However Lorenzo the Magnificent supposedly updated it in 1474.

So the sad thing about this fortezza is that it’s no longer a fortezza.

Now it’s actually a high security prison — which is kind of strange to me.

But the fortress is impressive with its 2 towers.

So while you can’t go into it, you can observe it from the lovely park — which is a good place to enjoy a picnic on a nice day.

I was really disappointed to learn of the fortezza now being a prison.

It seems like such a weird thing to put into an ancient building.

Discover alabaster

Going back to those Etruscans again….

This stone, alabaster, was mined in nearby quarries.

The Etruscans used it way back and local artists use it today.

Alabaster is sometimes referred to as a mineral or a rock.

It’s soft and translucent — and it’s really beautiful.

You can buy all kinds of handcrafted items made from alabaster as there are shops around where you can find some gorgeous items.

I recommend Cooperativa Artieri dell’Alabastro on Piazza dei Priori since it’s an artist coop.

If you want to know more about alabaster, then do visit the Ecomuseo dell’Alabastro.

Here you’ll learn more about this rock, view statues and other items made from this dazzling mineral, see what an artisan workshop looks like and find out about the tools that are used to create the sculptures.

The museum has works from Etruscan times up to present day.

Cost: €8

Final thoughts on Volterra

Volterra was my first Tuscan hill town so I have a soft spot in my heart for it.

I stayed 2 nights and just loved it.

My second visit was just a short day trip from the agriturismo where I was staying.

Now I want to return to explore it and some of the area around it deeper.

There really are a lot of things to do in Volterra — at least for a town of its size.

So do stay a couple of nights.

It will be worth it!

Please note that Wander Your Way does not recommend travel at this time due to the current global health situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, many destinations and attractions found on this website will not be operating although some places have opened. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC. I do plan to continue to write about incredible destinations and to offer tips on travel to Europe, so that you will find some solace in these posts — so you dream about travel and learn about travel. This way when we can all travel again, you’ll be ready to go! For now, stay home (or close to home) and stay safe!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I will earn a commission – at no extra cost to you — if you click on the link and purchase anything from these trusted companies. It helps Wander Your Way, a small business, stay in business. Thanks for your support!

Like it? Pin it!