Free walking tours in Volterra and what to see

Must-sees

Volterra was Velathri, one of the great Etruscan cities, and you still enter it through the Porta all'Arco, an Etruscan gate with three heads carved in the stone. It stands on top of a hill, ringed by walls, between the Era and Cecina valleys. Piazza dei Priori, with the Palazzo dei Priori, begun in the early 13th century, is the centre of town life. Close by are the cathedral and the octagonal baptistery.

The Guarnacci Etruscan Museum holds a huge collection of funerary urns and the bronze statuette known as the Ombra della sera. The Pinacoteca has Rosso Fiorentino's Deposition. By the walls you can see the ruins of the Roman theatre, and the Medici Fortress dominates the hill and now serves as a prison. Alabaster is the local craft and you will see workshops all over the centre. To the west, the Balze are erosion gullies that have gradually swallowed part of the hill.

Free tours and guided visits

Volterra has no regular free walking tours. If you want it explained, the option is a private guided tour, which helps you understand the city's Etruscan and Roman past. The rest can be seen on your own: the centre is small and the museums are easy to visit at your own pace.

How long to spend

A day lets you see it well: in the morning the Porta all'Arco, Piazza dei Priori and the cathedral; in the afternoon the Guarnacci Museum, the Roman theatre and a walk out to the Balze. If you stay the night, use the evening to look into an alabaster workshop and watch the sunset from the walls. With more time, San Gimignano is less than an hour away.

Where to stay

The most convenient option is to stay in the historic centre, where there are small hotels and apartments in stone buildings, with everything on foot. Just outside the walls you will find places to stay with easier parking. In the surrounding countryside there are isolated agriturismi among the hills, with pools and views, designed for those travelling by car.