Last updated by Kate Storm April 11 2023

There’s something truly special about the magic of a hilltop town that makes you work a little to reach it–and that’s what you’ll find in beautiful Volterra, Italy.

Featuring all the standard Tuscan tourism highlights with far fewer crowds than you’ll find in more well-trodden cities, exploring the best things to do in Volterra is a delightful way to spend a day (or longer).

Here’s what to do in Volterra and the details behind the Twilight-Volterra connection that put it unexpectedly on the tourism map for vampire fans in the mid-to-late-2000s.

Stroll through the Piazza dei Priori.

What’s a beautiful town in Tuscany without a central piazza?

Dominated by the towering Palazzo dei Priori with its beautiful clocktower, there’s no better place to kick off exploring the best things to do in Volterra than in this piazza.

… and check out the Palazzo dei Priori.

The oldest municipal building in all of Tuscany stands in Volterra–and considering that this is Tuscany, after all, which boasts historic buildings around every corner, that’s incredibly impressive!

Construction started in 1208, and if you’re up for ascending a mere 52 steps (a bargain for a Tuscan tower), you can enjoy stunning views from the top of the tower.

Explore the Roman Theatre.

Dating back 2000 years, the Roman Amphitheater in Volterra is worth a quick peak!

You can also see the remains of a Roman Forum and of some Roman Baths at the same site.

If you happen to be visiting in the off-season, keep in mind that these sites are only open on weekends over the winter.

Keep in mind that visitors are not permitted to drive inside the town walls (generally speaking, it’s almost always a travel mistake to drive into the historic center of a Tuscan town), so you’ll need to park outside of the town center and walk in–you’ll need to be prepared for a bit of a leg workout, but that’s more or less a requirement for spending a day in Volterra, Italy, regardless!

Visit a working farmhouse in the rolling hills of Volterra and learn how to prepare traditional Tuscan dishes. Cook with ingredients from the farm and sit down to savor the dish you've prepared.

For more information, check out;

https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/volterra-l1405/

Vera and Dario can also be contacted for help booking day trips from Volterra.