Volterra & San Gimignano Private Tour with Olive Oil Tasting

Overview

Savour the spirit of Tuscany with a private day trip to the fabulous hilltop towns of Volterra and San Gimignano, and discover the ancient art of olive oil with an exclusive tasting. Travel in comfort with your own driver-guide as you explore the Etruscan stronghold of Volterra, where alabaster artisans still work by hand and Roman ruins peek through medieval streets. Taste the secrets of extra virgin olive oil at a historic estate under the Tuscan sun, and enjoy a rustic country lunch with local Chianti wine. Then head to UNESCO-listed San Gimignano, a storybook town crowned with medieval towers where fabulous frescoed churches and award-winning gelato await.

Description

 

Volterra: A Visit to Tuscany’s Fascinating Etruscan Stronghold

Experience the heart of Tuscany on a day trip that blends art, history, landscape, and flavour in perfect harmony. Begin your journey with a drive to picturesque Volterra, one of Italy’s oldest hill towns, perched high above rolling fields of golden wheat. This ancient Etruscan stronghold - later a Roman and medieval powerhouse - is rich in history and character. On our tour you’ll uncover its fascinating past, from 7th-century BC tombs to towering medieval palaces.

Admire the imposing Palazzo dei Priori, Tuscany’s oldest town hall, and marvel at the ancient Roman Theatre, which still hosts cultural festivals under the stars. Then admire the city’s cathedral, where Romanesque austerity meets Baroque splendour. Inside, a row of soaring red marble columns hold up an incredible Baroque coffered ceiling, while beautiful frescoes emerge from the unmistakable Tuscan style of the green and white striped marble walls. 

 

Crafting Light: The Art of Alabaster

Volterra is world-renowned for its luminous alabaster - a material so delicate it captures and emanates light like a lantern. Learn the secrets of this translucent stone in a private demonstration with a local master artisan. Discover the infinite variations of color, transparency and veining that makes alabaster so unique, and discover the intricate craftsmanship behind this centuries-old tradition. Afterwards you’ll have time to browse the town’s numerous elegant boutiques, where precious alabaster works of art make for the perfect Volterra memento.

 

A Tuscan Table: Olive Oil, Wine & Countryside Charm

After your deep dive into the history and artistry of Volterra, it’s time to relax in the countryside with a leisurely Tuscan lunch! You’ll dine at a charming estate surrounded by olive groves and golden hills, where local expert Niccolò will introduce you to the secrets of Tuscany’s prized extra virgin olive oil - the magical key ingredient of so much Italian cuisine. Savour dishes crafted from Volterra’s seasonal bounty - fresh vegetables, homemade pastas, aged cheeses, traditional cold cuts and more - all paired with the estate’s own Chianti wines.

 

San Gimignano: The City of Towers

In the afternoon, walk off your lunch in nearby San Gimignano, a fairytale medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site that easily ranks amongst the most beautiful places in Italy. Once a key stop on the Via Francigena pilgrimage route, San Gimignano is famed for its dramatic skyline of stone towers - a relic from the town’s most prosperous era when wealthy families competed for prestige by outbuilding each other with ever taller constructions in a a kind of medieval arms race.

In your free time exploring San Gimignano, you’ll have the chance to explore its picturesque piazzas, duck into artisan shops, and step into its series of extraordinary fresco-filled churches. In the stunning Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta you can admire marvelous 15th century fresco cycles depicting stories from the Old and New Testament. Before moving on, You’ll also have time to treat yourself to a scoop (or two) of award-winning gelato as you wander the cobbled streets.