Volterra
Not far from the medieval town of San Gimignano, Velathri, or Volterra was one of the twelve main towns that belonged to the Etruscan civilization. The town walls were built to protect the ancient center and surrounding land from foreign invaders.
Volterra has a serene, historic center with narrow streets and beautiful squares. There are palaces and houses with towers typical of this region.
Known worldwide for its hand-made alabaster objects, you could wander the little artisan shops and find something to bring back as a souvenir.
Volterra became a little more famous in the last few years as the Twilight series storyline was based here and was the setting for some of the film’s most dramatic and important scenes. However, while Volterra, is a real town, movies scenes were filmed in Montepulciano, another stunning little Tuscan village.
Should you like to combine a visit to Volterra with the bigger towns, Siena is a short drive away.
Montepulciano
Montepulciano is one of my favorite spots, a stunning village with a vibrant community. There are always lots of events on throughout the year and they also sell magnificient wine!
This is is a medieval hilltop town surrounded by vineyards and it’s known for its vino nobile red wine. Other things to check out are the Torre di Pulcinella which is a clock tower topped by a figure of the Pulcinella, a commedia dell’arte character. Then on the Piazza Grande is the 14th-century Palazzo Comunale, with a tower offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and rolling hills. If you love to visit churches on your trips here there is also a beautiful Duomo, with a huge triptych above its altar.
To make this your home base and stay close by use this great location in rural tuscany in the nearby city of Cortona. Here you will find the spectacular Villa Ivana. With space for 18 guests, a private outdoor swimming pool, pretty covered outdoor dining area for up to 40 guests, its own private church and much more.
