Volterra
Volterra stands on a high rocky spur in the province of Pisa, among the hills of the Val di Cecina
Updated 19 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Volterra now
The story
The story of Volterra
Introduction and location
Volterra lies in the province of Pisa, in Tuscany, perched on a plateau overlooking the Val di Cecina. Its elevated position, several hundred metres above sea level, offers wide views over the surrounding hills and, on clear days, toward the Tyrrhenian coast. The historic centre is built around an ancient urban layout, with narrow lanes, stone buildings and intimate squares. It is a hilltop town of the Tuscan hinterland, set away from major traffic routes, which has kept a sober and compact character over time.
History and origins
The origins of Volterra date back to the Etruscan era, when the city was one of that civilisation's major centres, enclosed by massive walls of which stretches are still visible today. In Roman times the city retained its importance, as shown by archaeological remains preserved in the area. In the Middle Ages Volterra developed as a free commune, building public stone structures that still define the historic centre. In later centuries it came under Florentine control, which led to the construction of a defensive fortress. This layering of different eras is still readable while walking through the town's streets.
Nature and landscape
The countryside around Volterra is shaped by a typical inland Tuscan hill landscape, made of cultivated fields, woods and gentle ridges alternating with harsher geological formations. On the edges of the town lie wide clay and sand cliffs shaped over time by water erosion, a natural phenomenon that has slowly worn away part of the municipal territory. The surrounding countryside has been devoted to agriculture for centuries, with cereal crops, olive groves and vineyards forming a mosaic of colours that changes with the seasons. The contrast between the harsh urban rock and the softness of the hills is one of the area's distinctive features.
Things to do and see
A visit to Volterra centres mainly on the historic core, where walking through the stone streets reveals public buildings, churches and ancient town gates. It is worth spending time on the walk along the walls, which offers views over the countryside below, as well as visiting the town's museums dedicated to Etruscan archaeology and local art. Photography lovers will find scenic viewpoints both in the centre and in the outer parts of the municipal territory. Artisan workshops, where a stone typical of the area is still worked by hand, offer a chance to observe a craft passed down through generations.
Flavours and traditions
Volterra's cuisine has roots in Tuscan rural tradition, made of simple dishes and local ingredients: legume soups, unsalted bread, grilled meats and extra virgin olive oil produced in the surrounding countryside. Truffles gathered in the local woods and hard cheeses from small local farms are also part of the table. Alongside food, the town's most distinctive tradition remains the artisan working of alabaster, a local stone carved for centuries into objects and works of art. Workshops keep this skill alive, handed down from generation to generation to the present day.
Not to be missed
- A walk through the stone lanes and squares of the historic centre
- The route along the ancient walls of Etruscan origin
- The town museums dedicated to archaeology and local art
- Artisan workshops where alabaster is still hand-carved
- The clay and erosion formations on the edge of the town
To see
What to see in Volterra
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