Explore the beautiful Tuscan countryside on a day trip from Florence to San Gimignano and Volterra. Discover the medieval towns, enjoy the stunning views, and sample some of the region's best gelato.
Depart from Florence and travel to the medieval town of San Gimignano. Explore the town's fascinating points of architectural and archeological interest, excellent galleries and museums, and fantastic shopping featuring unique artisan products.
Continue to Volterra, a town that boasts jaw-dropping views of the countryside. Enjoy some free time to explore the town at your own pace. Visit the local shops and restaurants, and sample some of the region's best gelato.
San Gimignano: After a 60-minute drive through the Chianti wine region, we’ll arrive in San Gimignano. Its nickname “The Manhattan of Tuscany” paints an immediate picture, but in this case, we have Medieval towers instead of modern skyscrapers.
When you walk through San Gimignano, you might very well feel you are in a fairy tale. You will surely feel you have stepped back in time. Its towers were constructed by nobles between the 11th and 13th Centuries, and the village yet feels of that era. San Gimignano is also historically significant because of its position on the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route between Canterbury, England and Rome that was so important during Medieval times.
Today, San Gimignano is a bustling tourist destination, loaded with chic boutiques and award-winning gelaterias. If you prefer nature to eating and shopping, you can walk up to the fortress to get jaw-dropping views (and photos) of the rolling Tuscan terrain.
Volterra: After a 40-minute drive from San Gimignano to Volterra through a picturesque section of Tuscany, we'll arrive in the hilltop village of Volterra. Brought to the world's attention by the "Twilight" books and movies, Volterra possesses a particular Medieval beauty. Palazzo dei Priori, Volterra's city hall, is a masterful edifice with a clock tower from the 13th Century, so handsome that the city of Florence purportedly copied its design for Palazzo Vecchio. Stone houses line the curving streets, where curated boutiques invite you to deplete your life savings with their gorgeous food items, leather goods, unique clothing and jewelry, and incredible alabaster products. The alabaster is local, and there is no shortage of workshops in town where you can see dust-covered artisans working their craft. For ancient history, there's the Roman theatre, the ancient Etruscan wall and gates, and the Etruscan Museum. The views from Volterra are amazing, as is its iconic Medicean fortress.
Tuscany: to return to Florence, we'll go on a scenic drive through Tuscany
