Tuscany, as a destination, is full of stunning rural landscapes, pretty historic towns perched on hilltops, and awe-inspiring cities stuffed with artistic and cultural gems. There are, as a result, countless excellent holiday destinations to choose from within the region, if you are looking to plan a vacation in Tuscany. We have recently discussed the appeal of a holiday in Pisa, a vacation in Arezzo, and a villas in Cortona, but another gorgeous setting for a getaway in Tuscany that we highly recommend is Volterra. Volterra, an utterly picturesque walled hilltop town with Etruscan origins and a Medieval appearance, is an ideal place for a getaway for those who want to experience the most characteristic, authentic, and scenic version of Tuscany. So, browse our villas in Volterra and read on to discover just five reasons as to why you should definitely make the town your next vacation destination in Tuscany...
1. It is just so darn pretty...
As we have noted, Volterra is a historic town, perched on a hilltop. Due to this, the views in the town and from the town are unparalleled by few other holiday destinations in Tuscany, or anywhere else in the world for that matter! Framed by well-preserved Medieval ramparts and with church domes and impressive towers rising above a clutch of old stone buildings with terracotta roofs in a unified palette of dusty reddish and orange hues, the picturesque town looks like a fairytale kingdom from a distance and retains the appearance of being charmingly untouched by time as one approaches. Upon arriving in the town, you will discover a maze of little cobblestone streets and a tapestry of Roman, Etruscan, and Medieval buildings scattered throughout. For those looking to fall back through time, it is the ideal place to wander and get a little lost on purpose, as just exploring the streets is an excellent activity in its own right. Find a villa with pool in Volterra and come see it all for yourself.
As we have noted, Volterra is a historic town, perched on a hilltop. Due to this, the views in the town and from the town are unparalleled by few other holiday destinations in Tuscany, or anywhere else in the world for that matter! Framed by well-preserved Medieval ramparts and with church domes and impressive towers rising above a clutch of old stone buildings with terracotta roofs in a unified palette of dusty reddish and orange hues, the picturesque town looks like a fairytale kingdom from a distance and retains the appearance of being charmingly untouched by time as one approaches. Upon arriving in the town, you will discover a maze of little cobblestone streets and a tapestry of Roman, Etruscan, and Medieval buildings scattered throughout. For those looking to fall back through time, it is the ideal place to wander and get a little lost on purpose, as just exploring the streets is an excellent activity in its own right. Find a villa with pool in Volterra and come see it all for yourself.
2. It is the perfect place to buy some unique handicrafts and ideal souvenirs...
Many souvenir shops are, today, stuffed full of loud objects that are actually produced en masse on the other side of the globe. Those who are interested in buying from smaller producers, buying items that are actually traditionally from the area in which they are travelling, are made with care and by hand, and which are especially beautiful, should definitely come to visit Volterra. The town is known the world over for alabaster carving but is also home to a still rather vibrant trade in artisanal goods of various kinds. Taste locally-made delights and visit various workshops to stock up on unique gems for your home and to bring back as souvenirs for loved ones. If you're fond of having a bit of a lazy potter around the shops and discovering unique local gems, then check out our villas in Volterra stat!
Many souvenir shops are, today, stuffed full of loud objects that are actually produced en masse on the other side of the globe. Those who are interested in buying from smaller producers, buying items that are actually traditionally from the area in which they are travelling, are made with care and by hand, and which are especially beautiful, should definitely come to visit Volterra. The town is known the world over for alabaster carving but is also home to a still rather vibrant trade in artisanal goods of various kinds. Taste locally-made delights and visit various workshops to stock up on unique gems for your home and to bring back as souvenirs for loved ones. If you're fond of having a bit of a lazy potter around the shops and discovering unique local gems, then check out our villas in Volterra stat!
3. There is also plenty of intrigue for those who might be interested in the macabre...
Vampires, ghosts, witches, ancient torture devices: Volterra has it all, making it a destination of choice for those interested in the things that go bump in the night, despite the town's pretty, fairytale looks. If you are curious about the more macabre side of history, then come plan a vacation in Volterra and discover the town's famous Museum of Medieval Torture and the horrifying torture devices that are on show, the legends of a witch trial that took place in the town, the incredibly spooky abandoned (and supposedly haunted) former psychiatric hospital in a forested area near town, and the striking Medieval look of the town that inspired author Stephanie Meyer to make it the fictional headquarters of a very ancient and powerful vampire coven, the Volturi, in her, “Twilight” saga of books (though the movie adaptation was actually filmed in another Tuscan town called Montepulciano).
Vampires, ghosts, witches, ancient torture devices: Volterra has it all, making it a destination of choice for those interested in the things that go bump in the night, despite the town's pretty, fairytale looks. If you are curious about the more macabre side of history, then come plan a vacation in Volterra and discover the town's famous Museum of Medieval Torture and the horrifying torture devices that are on show, the legends of a witch trial that took place in the town, the incredibly spooky abandoned (and supposedly haunted) former psychiatric hospital in a forested area near town, and the striking Medieval look of the town that inspired author Stephanie Meyer to make it the fictional headquarters of a very ancient and powerful vampire coven, the Volturi, in her, “Twilight” saga of books (though the movie adaptation was actually filmed in another Tuscan town called Montepulciano).
4. The town that is utterly steeped in history and culture...
Of course, the less fantastical, more grounded in reality history of Volterra is no less fascinating and will be very interesting to history buffs. Founded by the Etruscans, Velathri, as it was called then, was one of the twelve main towns that belonged to their confederation. At the end of the 4th century BC, the fortification walls around the town were built to protect it but eventually, after periods of Frankish and Lombard rule, the town was taken over by the Romans and renamed Volaterrae, from which the modern name comes. Before ultimately becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, the town also spent time under the control of Florence and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, among others. All of these various periods of different rules have left marks that are still particularly visible and felt in Volterra, with important attractions in town such as the famous walls around the town (part of which can be visited and walked today), the Etruscan Acropolis, the well-preserved Porta dell'Arco and Porta Diana entrance gates that also date back to the Etruscans, some ancient temples, the Roman theatre, the beautiful Romanesque cathedral, the fine Piazza dei Priori (the town's main square and a wonderful example of a Medieval Tuscan town square), the impressive Palazzo dei Priori (which is the oldest town hall in Tuscany), and more. In addition to the historic landmarks themselves, Volterra is also home to a fine selection of museums and galleries including the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, the Pinacoteca E Museo Civico di Volterra with its collection of Tuscan art from the 14th to the 17th centuries, the Eco-museum of Alabaster, the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, and more. Meaning that if you're interested in Tuscan art and history but you're looking for somewhere without the same mad queues of bigger cities and destinations and a little bit more off the beaten track, a villa in Volterra is just the thing!
Of course, the less fantastical, more grounded in reality history of Volterra is no less fascinating and will be very interesting to history buffs. Founded by the Etruscans, Velathri, as it was called then, was one of the twelve main towns that belonged to their confederation. At the end of the 4th century BC, the fortification walls around the town were built to protect it but eventually, after periods of Frankish and Lombard rule, the town was taken over by the Romans and renamed Volaterrae, from which the modern name comes. Before ultimately becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, the town also spent time under the control of Florence and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, among others. All of these various periods of different rules have left marks that are still particularly visible and felt in Volterra, with important attractions in town such as the famous walls around the town (part of which can be visited and walked today), the Etruscan Acropolis, the well-preserved Porta dell'Arco and Porta Diana entrance gates that also date back to the Etruscans, some ancient temples, the Roman theatre, the beautiful Romanesque cathedral, the fine Piazza dei Priori (the town's main square and a wonderful example of a Medieval Tuscan town square), the impressive Palazzo dei Priori (which is the oldest town hall in Tuscany), and more. In addition to the historic landmarks themselves, Volterra is also home to a fine selection of museums and galleries including the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, the Pinacoteca E Museo Civico di Volterra with its collection of Tuscan art from the 14th to the 17th centuries, the Eco-museum of Alabaster, the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, and more. Meaning that if you're interested in Tuscan art and history but you're looking for somewhere without the same mad queues of bigger cities and destinations and a little bit more off the beaten track, a villa in Volterra is just the thing!
5. It is a place that always inspires artists...
Stephanie Meyer, though a highly notable recent example, is not the only artist or writer to fall for Volterra and deem it a perfect setting for their work. Countless works of art have been set in, make mention of, or have been inspired by, Volterra. Despite its relatively small size, references to this charming town are littered across culture. It is, simply, the kind of magical place that just seems to make people fall in love. So, if you are an artist yourself who happens to be looking for some inspiration of your own, maybe a vacation in Volterra and time in this picturesque setting, enjoying the slower pace of life, and taking in the incredibly rich history and cultural heritage of the town, is just the thing to help you birth your next great work.
Whether you're a history buff, you are an art-lover, you want to get off the beaten track in Tuscany, you love trinkets, you're interested in Italian design, you're intrigued by the more macabre aspects of history, you are in search of a little bit of inspiration, or you just like a scenic setting, a villa in Volterra really is the thing that the doctor ordered to ensure all of that and even more besides!
Stephanie Meyer, though a highly notable recent example, is not the only artist or writer to fall for Volterra and deem it a perfect setting for their work. Countless works of art have been set in, make mention of, or have been inspired by, Volterra. Despite its relatively small size, references to this charming town are littered across culture. It is, simply, the kind of magical place that just seems to make people fall in love. So, if you are an artist yourself who happens to be looking for some inspiration of your own, maybe a vacation in Volterra and time in this picturesque setting, enjoying the slower pace of life, and taking in the incredibly rich history and cultural heritage of the town, is just the thing to help you birth your next great work.
Whether you're a history buff, you are an art-lover, you want to get off the beaten track in Tuscany, you love trinkets, you're interested in Italian design, you're intrigued by the more macabre aspects of history, you are in search of a little bit of inspiration, or you just like a scenic setting, a villa in Volterra really is the thing that the doctor ordered to ensure all of that and even more besides!
