Volterra, Italy, is among the most spectacular hill towns in Tuscany. Famous for the extraction and processing of alabaster, the beautiful, walled town was established around the 7th century BC by the Etruscans and it is said to have been continuously inhabited since that time.

If you are a serious Twilight Saga fan, the name Volterra probably sounds familiar to you, and you might want to take a Twilight tour of the city or buy a Twilight themed souvenir in the visitors center.

What you may not know is that the Volterra scenes from the New Moon movie weren’t shot in Volterra but in nearby Montepulciano!

Volterra is full of history and it retains many traces of its interesting Etruscan, Medieval and Renaissance past. However, the charm of Volterra doesn’t lie in its historical heritage only but in the serene olive tree orchards, the pleasing countryside that surrounds it, the laid-back lifestyle and the old tradition of alabaster carving.

Here are a few attractions that only Volterra can offer.

Discover the Age-Old Art Of Alabaster

In Volterra the craft of alabaster began when Etruscan craftsmen carved it to make urns for the ashes of their dead. The Guarnacci Etruscan Museum features an important collection of beautifully ornate funerary urns, terracotta statues, coins and many other artifacts unique to Volterra, Italy.

The craft of alabaster has been kept to this day and in the historic center of Volterra, Tuscany, you can still find traditional workshops covered in white dust that produce beautiful figurines, bowls, boxes and picture frames, all handcrafted and available in the numerous shops in Volterra.

The Ecomuseo dell’Alabastro, next to the Pinacoteca, displays the history and culture of this unique artistic craft.

The Evocative Architecture of Volterra

There are several buildings that showcase the town’s rich historical and spiritual past that you’ll want to experience first-hand.

The Roman Theater of Volterra is one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Italy. It dates back to the 1st century BC and it was discovered in the 1950s during some excavation works. In summer the Teatro Romano di Volterra houses the prestigious International Roman Theater Festival.

In Piazza dei Priori the Palazzo dei Priori that dominates the Medieval main square is now the Town Hall. It was built in the 13th century, but the tower was rebuilt in stone in the 19th century after an earthquake destroyed the previous wooden bell tower. If you are in Volterra during the winter months don’t miss the Saturday market in Piazza dei Priori.

Another artistic jewel is the Cathedral of Volterra —Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta— and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. And if you choose to walk alongside the ancient city wall, apart from enjoying the kind Tuscan landscape that surrounds Volterra, you’ll come across the amazingly well-preserved Porta dell’Arco of Etruscan origin that was built in the 4th century BC.

The Imposing Medici Fortress

The Fortezza Medicea rises on the highest point of the hill that overlooks Volterra and dominates the whole town.

Nowadays the fortress is a maximum security prison and visits are restricted to some buildings and a few days a week. There is an exception though, and this is a restaurant operated by the inmates. They are supervised by armed guards, and the cutlery is plastic but the prisoners manage everything.

In 2005 the prison started a rehabilitation project to prepare the inmates to reintegrate in society. If you want to brag about a truly different foodie experience, this is your chance. However, getting a reservation isn’t easy, you have to apply two months in advance for a background check.

Check out the Pictures of Volterra, Italy

If you want to have a preview of the attractions you are going to see during your visit, have a look at our gallery of photos by clicking the button below. The collection will surely convince you that Volterra, Italy, might be the perfect vacation destination for you.

Did you know that Siena is generally seen as one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany and Italy. There is no shortage of interesting things to do in Siena!

Siena has always competed with Florence in political, economical and artistic matters. While Florence is the quintessential Renaissance town, Siena is universally known for its well-preserved medieval Gothic heritage and it is a World Heritage Site since 1995.

Twice a year —on July 2 and August 16— Siena holds a very important event: The Siena, Italy Palio. The Palio di Siena a thrilling horse race of medieval origins that locals call simply Il Palio. The race, which takes place in Piazza del Campo, is preceded by a spectacular parade.

Siena has seventeen contrade or districts and each year ten of them compete against each other in this difficult race along the edges of the Piazza del Campo. Il Palio is one of the most exciting things to do in Siena. Do not hesitate to visit the city if you are in the Toscana, Italy on those dates.

Here are a few tips about what you can see or do in this beautiful Tuscan city.

Don’t Miss the Unique Piazza del Campo

This medieval, shell-shaped square in the historic center of Siena is the main meeting point of Sienese, who call it Il Campo. All important events in Siena, such as the Palio, happen in this square paved with red bricks.

On the Piazza del Campo you’ll see another impressive medieval building with Gothic influences, the Palazzo Pubblico or Palazzo Comunale with its high Torre del Mangia. The tower rises 289 feet or 88 m and was built to be taller than the tower in rival Florence. When it was built it was one of the tallest secular towers in Italy.

Another popular attraction in Piazza del Campo is the Fonte Gaia, a monumental fountain that is the biggest in Siena.

Admire the 13th century Siena Cathedral

The Duomo di Siena is a masterwork of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture. It is made of white and black marble —the colors of the coat of arms of Siena— with some decorations in red marble. The white and black two-tone that dominate the internal structure of the cathedral create a chiaroscuro effect that strikes the eye.

One of the jewels of the Duomo is the octagonal Siena Cathedral Pulpit sculpted by Nicola Pisano, which is seen as one of the greatest masterpieces of the thirteenth century in Italy.

Further, the cathedral of Siena boasts works of art by great artists like Donatello, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and a young Michelangelo among others.

Great View from Basilica di San Domenico

The basilica stands on a hill from where you can enjoy an excellent view of the Siena Cathedral and the Torre del Mangia.

Today, the Holy Mass and the majority of religious services are held in the Gothic crypt, particularly in the winter months, because it’s not so cold as the above basilica.

The Basilica of San Domenico keeps several relics of St. Catherine of Siena, one of the two patron saints of Italy, together with St. Francis of Assisi. You can easily combine this visit with the Birth House of St. Catherine of Siena, which is nearby.

Wine, Food and Day Trips

Since Siena is in central Tuscany, in the Chianti region, you’ll be able to taste excellent Chianti wine. Siena is virtually surrounded by charming Chianti vineyards.

Don’t miss the traditional Sienese panforte, a delicious fruitcake that might date back to the 13th century. Or the hand-rolled pici pasta that seems to have originated in nearby Montalcino, where you can also taste the superb Brunello di Montalcino wine.

Apart from the obvious visit to Florence and perhaps Pisa, you have other choices for day trips from Siena: the smaller towns of San Gimignano, Pienza, Arezzo or Montepulciano are all worth a visit. There are many buses and train connections that will take you to those places.

Siena Photo Gallery

Whether you are planning a day trip to Siena or you want to spend your entire vacation in the city, you will surely be charmed by one of Tuscany’s most beautiful cities. Click the button below to see the photo gallery of Siena attractions and the pleasant atmosphere that awaits you.

Together with Venice, Italy, Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the historic center of Florence is a World Heritage Site since 1982. There are so many things to see in Florence, Italy!

The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is built on the site of an Etruscan settlement and is generally seen as one of the important cradles of art and architecture.

Florence boasts six hundred years of extraordinary artistic and cultural pursuits and activities, but it rose to special prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries under the Medici family that shaped the history and cultural institutions of Florence, Italy.

Ready to find out what to see in Florence, Italy? We selected the most popular Florence, Italy attractions and stunning photos.

Piazzale Michelangelo on Michelangelo Hill

You could start with the Piazzale Michelangelo to have a panoramic view of the city of Italy, Florence. Michelangelo square was built in 1869 on a hill just south of the old town, in the Oltrarno district.

From there you’ll have a fantastic view of the core of Florence, including Ponte Vecchio and other bridges crossing the Arno River, the famous Forence Cathedral, Forte Belvedere, Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce… and beyond the city the hills of Fiesole and Settignano.

The square, dedicated to Michelangelo, has bronze copies of some of his marble works found elsewhere in Florence such as the David.

Ponte Vecchio, the Oldest Surviving Bridge, and the Vasari Corridor

This emblematic bridge of Firenze, which name means Old Bridge in English, crosses the Arno river at its narrowest point. The first construction dates back to Roman times and it is the only bridge in Florence that wasn’t destroyed by the Germans during their Second World War retreat in 1944.

It is crossed by the Vasari corridor, Corridoio Vasariano in Italian, a gallery that connects the Palazzo Vecchio with the Pitti Palace passing by the Uffizi. The Vasari Corridor was built in 1565 in only five months by Giorgio Vasari at the behest of Grand Duke Cosimo I de Medici.

The Ponte Vecchio is lined either side with shops, mainly jewelers now. The shops of Ponte Vecchio face the aisle and each one has a single window closed by thick wooden doors.

And over the shops, the Corridoio Vasariano, the security tunnel that allowed the Medicis to get into their governmental office buildings without having to confront the dangerous plebs and the risk of assassination.

In the 19th century it was turned into an additional gallery for the Uffizi that can only be visited by special appointment. It gathers over 700 portraits, the largest collection of portraits and self-portraits in the world.

Awe-Inspiring Duomo of Firenze

The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore that translates into English as Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower is popularly know as the Duomo di Firenze. The famous Brunelleschi dome is the largest masonry dome ever built. You can also see the Gothic Giotto’s Campanile or Giotto’s Bell tower standing next to the Basilica, one of the most important landmarks of Firenze, Italy.

Often people attribute the façade of the Duomo of Florence to Giotto but it was started twenty years after his death and it was a collective work by several artists. The original was left unfinished and dismantled in 1587 at the behest of the Medici. The neo Gothic facade we see today was built in the 19th century by Emilio De Fabris.

There are 460 steps to the top of the dome where you’ll have a spectacular view of the city of Firenze. Italy. The building of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore began on the site of the Cathedral of Santa Reparata that wasn’t large enough to serve the growing population of Firenze. Now the Duomo can hold up to thirty thousand parishioners.

Basilica di Santa Croce: Pantheon of Illustrious Italians

One of the greatest Gothic churches in Italy, the Basilica di Santa Croce, literally Basilica of the Holy Cross in English, is the main Franciscan church in the city of Florence. It is also known as the Tempio dell’Itale Glorie, that translates as the Temple of the Italian Glories, because it is the burial place of some of the most famous and respected Italians: among others, Michelangelo, Rossini, Galileo and Machiavelli rest in this Florentine church.

Superb Art Collection in the Galleria degli Uffizi

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is one of the most important art galleries in the world. It contains an incomparable collection of Renaissance art including the largest collections of paintings by Botticelli.

It also houses a remarkable collection of ancient sculptures and masterpieces by Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, among many others. There are other museums in Florence, Italy though. The Bargello is another museum worth visiting that houses masterpieces by Michelangelo.

Santa Maria Novella: First Gothic Church in Florence

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is Florence’s main Dominican church. In 1221 the twelve friars that had arrived in Florence from Bologna two years ago were assigned the small church of Santa Maria delle Vigne, surrounded by vineyards as her name vigne suggests.

Soon they started building a new church and an adjoining cloister and called this new church Novella, New in English. The Basilica di Santa Maria di Novella and the cloister contain several art treasures and funerary monuments. Particularly admired are the frescoes by artists of Gothic and early Renaissance.

Want to see more pictures of Florence, Italy? Click the buttom below to see an awesome collection of awesome pictures of Italy, Florence.

Regarded as the birthplace of the Renaissance, the Toscana, Italy enjoys one of the most impressive art and architecture legacies in the world. The Tuscany was the birthplace of magnificent artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli or Donatello that created superb art works.

As we write this, the Tuscany boasts seven World Heritage sites: the historical centers of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Pienza, the square of the Cathedral of Pisa, the Val d’Orcia and the Medici Villas and Gardens.

Next to the stunning Tuscan cities and historic villages, the Tuscan countryside is also delightful: the gentle Tuscany hills, the vineyards that produce the famous Chianti wine or the scenic Val d’Orcia.

Here are some of our suggestions that’ll make your Toscana, Italy stay memorable.

The Gentle Tuscany Hills of Val d’Orcia

Val d’Orcia extends from the hills south of the city of Siena. It features harmoniously farmed hills and picturesque, medieval towns such as Montalcino with its prestigious wines and Pienza, the ideal town of the Renaissance.

The iconic thicket of cypresses of San Quirico d’Orcia is protected by the Val d’Orcia Natural Artistic and Cultural Park and is located on a hill overlooking the historical Via Cassia that linked the towns of Rome and Florentia (Florence) in Roman times.

San Gimignano, the Manhattan of the Middle Ages

San Gimignano is a small walled town in the province of Siena. It is especially famous for its remarkable medieval towers that proudly stand out from the landscape and have earned it the nickname Manhattan of the Middle Ages.

From seventy-two, there are still sixteen towers standing, and Torre Rognosa, which is 51 m or 167 ft, is the oldest and among the best preserved.

An edict of 1255 forbade private citizens to build the towers taller than the Torre Rognosa, also called Torre dell’Orologio, Clock’s Tower in English, which was the highest at the time, but this rule was ignored by some powerful families.

Visit the Chianti Hills Region: Chianti Vineyards and Chianti Wine

It was in the middle of the 19th century that Baron Bettino Ricasoli developed the Chianti formula: 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca. Until then most Chianti wine was mostly made with only Sangiovese grapes.

Over the years, Chianti wine makers have experimented with different compositions but for a wine to be called Chianti it has to contain at least 80% of Sangiovese grapes.

Montepulciano, Southern Tuscany

Of Etruscan origin, Montepulciano is a town with a very long history. Worth visiting is the Cathedral of Montepulciano or Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta that features a masterpiece triptych depicting the Assumption of the Virgin by Taddeo di Bartolo from the Sienese school. The Chiesa di San Biagio is also a monumental church and an example of a late Renaissance Greek cross plan.

Also, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano produced in the surrounding vineyards is considered one of the best wines in Italy by wine connoisseurs.

Volterra, the Etruscan Alabaster Town in Toscana, Italy

The small town of Volterra is known as the city of alabaster, a tradition dating back to Etruscan times. It has a very interesting historical center of Etruscan origin that includes the well-preserved Porta dell’Arco gate from the 3rd century BC.

Other landmarks are the Etruscan Walls, the Porta Diana gate, a Roman theater from the 1st century BC, a Romanesque Cathedral and the medieval Medici Fortress among others —very impressive monuments for such a small town.

The Natural Park of Maremma, Southern Tuscany

The Parco Naturale della Maremma was the first natural park of the Tuscany region and it includes unspoiled areas of coast. The Maremma used to be populated by cattle breeders called Butteri who rode the Maremmano horse on their distinctive saddle. You could loosely compare them to the cowboys. The Maremma marshes were drained under Mussolini and repopulated with people from other Italian regions.

Viareggio, Tyrrhenian Sea, Northern Tuscany

At the beginnings of the 20th century the coastal town of Viareggio enjoyed a time of great prosperity and it earned the nickname, La Perla del Tirreno, Tyrrhenian’s Pearl in English. Today it is still known as a seaside resort and for its famous carnival.

The promenade known as La Passegiatta along the sea concentrates the most important monuments in Viareggio and sees the Carnival’s parade every year with its traditional masks Burlamacco and Ondina.

Other interesting places you can visit are Certaldo, believed to be the birthplace of Bocaccio, the author of the Decameron; the pristine hills of Montopoly in Val d’Arno to the east of Pisa, the towns of Siena, Florence, Pienza… Click the button below to checkout our hand-picked selection of amazing Tuscany pictures.

When you think of Italy, probably the first things that come to mind are history and architecture, while picturing in your head the Coliseum of Rome or maybe the Vatican. Or maybe Florence – you can say the whole city is an outdoor museum of Italian Renaissance. If you love art, you will love this city. In the following, you will find a brief Florence travel guide, with tourist attractions worth seeing.

Florence will require two or three days to be discovered by the average tourist and about a week to be explored by those who are looking for more than the most known tourist attractions. Florence has beautiful sights, buildings with impressive architecture and an overall enchanting atmosphere. Here are a few of the things you shouldn’t miss.

The Villa Medici at Castello

The Villa Medici belonged to the Medici family in the 15th century. It is located in the countryside, near Florence and is famous for its impressive architecture and gorgeous gardens. The villa has been fortified to provide the necessary protection to the Medici family, which was extremely influential in that period.

Ponte Vecchio

This medieval bridge, called Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is one of the most beautiful sights in Florence. It stretches over the river Arno. Originally, the bridge was not entirely made of stone, but also used to have portions made in wood. In the 12th century, the area was flooded and the wood portions of the bridge have been destroyed. Later, the bridge was rebuilt using only stone material. The area is a real attraction because of the many markets and shops.

Boboli Gardens

Even in Florence, the heart of Tuscany, which is a region famous for peace and relaxation, you feel sometimes like you want to escape away from all the urban noise and fuss. Boboli Gardens in Florence are a place that truly makes you feel like you are kilometers away from the city. The Gardens are near Pitti Palace and include a large amphitheater. You’ll be stunned by the landscape, as well as by the interesting sculptures that you will have the chance to see there.

Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square)

This famous market offers a unique panorama over the entire city of Florence. Its privileged position makes it a major tourist attraction. The square was dedicated to the renowned sculptor of the Renaissance, Michelangelo, and contains even copies of his famous works of art, such as David. We recommend you to visit the square twice, once during the day, when you have a clear view over the city, and once at night, when all the major tourist attractions are lit up.

Uffizi Gallery

This museum, build in 1560, is one of the oldest museums in the world. It houses an impressive collection of works of art and represents one of the most important attractions of Florence and the entire region of Tuscany. In July-August, you may have the surprise to stay even 5 hours in queue to get tickets, so we recommend that you book your tickets in advance.

A Florence travel guide would not be complete without images of the best attractions. Click the button below to enter our photo gallery and admire quality photos of the sites mentioned here, as well as of many other places in Florence that you will want to visit.