Tuscany 10-day Itinerary
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Tuscany to get the most from your trip – a 10-day itinerary from destination expert and leading travel writer Nicky Swallow.
Bucket list experience:
Volterra, Tuscany, Italy
The fortified hilltop town of Volterra boasts an impressive setting atop a 530-metre outcrop, set in an area rich in mineral and alabaster deposits. Steeped in history, it was a very wealthy Etruscan, then Roman settlement, but the town today dates mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries.
It’s ideal to gently explore on foot; combine dipping into the Roman remains and historic churches with a leisurely coffee or lunch on the impressive main square, Piazza Martiri della Liberta.
Close to Palazzo dei Priori (which looks like a miniature version of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio) is the 13th-century Cathedral and its Baptistery.
Volterra is still known for its production of alabaster. Artisan studios and shops selling alabaster are to be found on every corner of the old town; you can wander into the studios and watch the craftsmen at work (most don’t mind, but it’s polite to ask first). The most skilled makers produce unique creations costing thousands, but there are also lots of shops selling cheap but attractive trinkets.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Tuscany to get the most from your trip – a 10-day itinerary from destination expert and leading travel writer Nicky Swallow.
Volterra lies 80km southwest of Florence, 50km southeast of Pisa and 50km west of Siena. There’s no train service right into the town, but there are buses from Florence, Pisa and Siena. It’s an easy town to visit independently, if you have a hire car. The best way to explore is on foot, and half a day is usually enough.
As always, to avoid the crowds and heat, try and avoid mid-July to mid-August. In spring and autumn there are few visitors, and winter is empty.
Volterra, Tuscany, Italy
This museum houses an important collection of Etruscan and Roman artifacts – look out for the famous ‘evening shadow’ statuette.
Best for ages: 18+ | £7
Volterra, Tuscany, Italy
Volterra’s Duomo may be rather dull-looking on the outside, but bypass it and you’ll miss Mina da Fiesole’s intricate Renaissance tabernacle over the high altar and some beautiful woodcarving. There’s also a marble pulpit by the Pisano family.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Volterra, Tuscany, Italy
The star attraction in Volterra, in the Pinacoteca, is Rosso Fiorentino’s fabulous, seminal altarpiece Deposition, which demonstrates the artists’ astounding use of colour.
Best for ages: 18+ | £5
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Pignano, Tuscany, Italy[8.6 miles]
A beautifully-renovated 18th-century villa and its surrounding hamlet, set on a 750-acre estate in the middle of rural Tuscany.
Official star rating:
Casole D'Elsa SI, Tuscany, Italy[20 miles]
A luxurious country estate, complete with 10th-century castle, set in 4,200 acres of unspoilt Tuscan countryside and home to a world-class spa and fine dining restaurant.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Tuscany, Italy
The astonishingly beautiful region of Tuscany has it all: art cities and ancient hill towns, high mountains and long sandy beaches, alongside luxurious hotels and some of Italy’s best food and wine.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy[16.4 miles]
Sometimes dubbed ‘Tuscany’s Manhattan’ for its clutch of slim medieval towers (visible for miles around), iconic San Gimignano is the region’s most famous (and most visited) hill town.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Colle di Val D'Elsa, Tuscany, Italy[19.3 miles]
Colle Val d’Elsa Food writer/blogger and photographer Giulia Scarpaleggia and her husband run the excellent ‘Jul’s Kitchen’ offering a range of hands-on cooking classes alongside courses in food writing and photography. Classes are held in their house in the countryside between Siena and Florence.
Best for ages: 13+ | £70 | 3 hours
Certaldo, Tuscany, Italy[22.1 miles]
An excellent cooking school based in Certaldo (southwest of Florence) offering truffle-hunting experiences in the Chianti woods, followed by a truffle-based lunch or cooking lessons with truffles.
Best for ages: 13+ | £120 | 3-4 hours