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.
Highlights
Hidden Gems
- Alabaster Workshop
- Italy's Best Gelato
Tour Includes
- Private Transportation with Driver-Guide
- Guided olive oil tasting
- Traditional Tuscan lunch
Create Your Custom Journey
Our dedicated team is here to help you design the perfect trip. We’re happy to assist every step of the way.
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Can’t make your trip? Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, minus any ticket costs.
ITINERARY
What To Expect On Your Tour
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.
Create Your Custom Journey
Our dedicated team is here to help you design the perfect trip. We’re happy to assist every step of the way.
