Volterra (Tuscany)

Panoramic view of Volterra

Street of the medieval village Volterra

Medici fortress with the park in Volterra

Volterra is a walled mountaintop town in the Tuscany region of Italy of which its history dates to before the 7th century BC and has substantial structures from the Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval periods. When the Florentine Republic fell in 1530, Volterra came under the control of the Medici family and later followed the history of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. There are really a lot of things to see: the Volterra Cathedral, the Fortezza Medicea, the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum and the Etruscan walls are only some of the main sights in Volterra.

Tuscany Highlights

Travel Guide
trevi
The Balconies of Italy: Six Foothill Towns You Should Get to Know 

Often overlooked in favor of hilltop towns and seaside villages, Italy’s foothill towns spill down the lower slopes of some of the country’s most dramatic mountain ranges, offering sweeping vistas.

Places
Manifattura's bar
Made in Italy, Served at Manifattura: The Florence Bar Where Italian Music and Spirits Merge

Perfect for pre-dinner or for a nightcap, this bar uses exclusively Italian spirits in its cocktails (and Italian tunes to create its ambience).

Museums
Tourists admire Botticelli's Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Gallery.
Uffizi Director Speaks Out About Staff Shortages at Italy's State Museums

Eike Schmidt, director of Florence's Uffizi Galleries — a group that includes the Pitti Palace and Vasari Corridor — drew attention to the issue after a record-breaking Ferragosto weekend.

Places
Rooftop bar in Florence with view of surrounding landscape
Five of the Hottest Cocktail Bars in Florence

If you’re looking for a delicious cocktail with scenery to match, these Florentine hotspots are worth adding to your list.

Italy in Brief
boboli garden
Ambitious Restoration Plan Unveiled for Florence's Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Masterplan 2030 is a €50 million, eight-year plan to return the Boboli Gardens to their Medici-era splendor.

What you can't miss in Tuscany

Where is Volterra

Top Experiences in Tuscany

Best places to stay in Tuscany

Properties for sale in Tuscany

Poppi Ref: 4937 1
Villa in Poppi
495000
Restored Country Home for sale in Tuscany near Arezzo Ref. TCR-004 0
Country Home - Restored in Chianti
645000
Lounge area
Country Home - Restored in Cortona
52000
Poppi Ref: 4897 1
in Poppi
150000
Montaione Ref: 4892 1
Apartment in Montaione
400000
Bagni di Lucca Ref: 5110 1
Detached House in Bagni di Lucca
160000
House - Rivalto, Chianni 1
Semi-detached in Chianni
270000
Farmhouse - Volterra 1
Detached House in Volterra
1750000

Recipes From Tuscany

Recipes
Tuscan Farro Soup
Zuppa di Farro | Tuscan Farro Soup

The first chilly fall evenings call for a satisfyingly hearty grain and legume soup.

Recipes
Pappa al Pomodoro—Tuscan Tomato-Bread Soup
Pappa al Pomodoro—Tuscan Tomato-Bread Soup

Pappa al pomodoro---a piatto povero, “poor-man’s dish,” is another such creation by Tuscan farmers to make use of stale bread and bumper crops of tomatoes, a New World food introduced into Italy in the 16thc.

Recipes
Pandiramerino (Rosemary and Sultana Buns)
Made with an olive oil-enrichened bread dough and studded with fresh rosemary and sweet sultanas, these delightfully sticky, criss-crossed buns were traditionally served on giovedì santo or Holy Thursday in the Renaissance city.
Recipes
Gnocchetti di Pane (Bread Gnocchi)
Amy Gulick shares another recipe from the Italian cucina povera tradition— with simple, ‘poor’ ingredients invariably found in the pantry.
Recipes
Ricotta and Rosemary Schiacciata
Our food writer Amy Gulick shares a bit of local history in her area of Tuscany along with this tasty recipe for ricotta and rosemary schiacciata
more recipes

What others are saying about Tuscany

@linmuir asks:

Can anyone give some advice or insight into a shock tax bill I've received 2 years and 11 months after purchasing my house in Tuscany? I've received, out of the blue, a brief email from the estate agents that the sale of my property was made through.

See the answer
@jacthe asks:

Hi there, ...new to this forum and would appreciate any help. I'm sure this will be the first of many questions.

See the answer
@JanJ asks:

We are planning to drive over to our place in northern Tuscany in April with a van load of furniture (all second hand) bits and bobs for the house etc but I have suddenly realised that this may not be as straightforward as it was pre brexit!! What are the rules regarding transporting stuff now?

See the answer

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