Volterra & San Gimignano with Evoo-Niccolo

Overview

Explore the enchanting town of Volterra and uncover the secrets of Alabaster in one of its charming boutiques, where we’ll meet the artisan behind these timeless creations. Then, indulge in a delightful lunch at a serene olive oil estate nestled in the countryside. Savor traditional dishes, perfectly paired with the estate’s own Chianti wines, as you relax under the Tuscan sun.

Afterward, we’ll make our way to the magical San Gimignano. Treat yourself to a refreshing gelato or wander its medieval streets, each one whispering tales of a rich and storied past.

Description

Exploring Volterra and its gems

This tour begins with accompanying you to one of the most ancient and prestigious towns of Tuscany: Volterra. The city stands halfway between Pisa and Siena, this territory represents the heart of Maremma Pisana, a landscape filled with brownish and golden fields where hills are gentle and the sky's the bluest. You will learn about the origins of the city, testified by the first archaeological exhibits of VII and VI a.C., determining the existence of Volterra from Etruscan times. Due to the strategic position the city became an economical and political centre, the architectural language thus, reflected the power of Volterra, enriching the historic centre with imponent buildings. 

You will not miss the chance to admire Palazzo dei Priori built at the beginning of 1200 and seat of the administration; it is in fact the oldest municipality building of the whole Tuscany. 

Another gem is definitely the Romanic Open Air Theatre of the I century a.C., site which hosts every year The International Festival, when remarkable winners among the world of Culture and Showbusiness receive the Ombra della Sera (Shadows of the Night) awards. 

Furthermore, we’ll be enchanted by the mysterious charm of Saint Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, the major church of the city built from the XII until the XVIII century. The long period of construction allowed the layering of several architectural styles such as romanic and baroque, in example: the facade presents the typical elements of the romanic language and creates a contrast with the interior of the church, divided into three naves by wonderful red marbled columns sustaining an incredible coffered ceiling totally Baroque. The frescoes are suggestive and enlight the surrounding, emerging from the traditional tuscan black/green and white striped composition of the walls. 

Learning and discovering the secrets of Alabaster

Volterra is worldwide renowned for the incredible production of Alabaster, a fine material used in art and architecture. The city’s area is full of open air quarries where the blocks of calcium sulfate bi-hydrate are hand-gathered from different depths, from 6 to 984 ft. Due to different collection points and the chemical characteristics of the soil, the material presents several variables in terms of Color, Transparency and Veins. Artisans mastered the perfect technique to enhance the astonishing charm of the material, which filters the rays of sun and collects them into a white smooth shell. In order to live and shine, the stone needs light, that is why the artisan’s working station is positioned under a window to allow the maximum amount of natural light. We will then have the opportunity to meet a Master Artisan who will show you all his secrets behind the creation of precious alabaster art pieces, which you can see and buy around all the boutiques of the centre. 

Enjoying a classic Tuscan lunch 

After all this knowledge you will relax under the sun of an oasis nestled in the countryside, where a delightful lunch will be served to your table.The expert Niccolò will guide you through the marvellous tradition of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, key ingredient of the Italian culinary tradition. Tuscany is the region, together with Puglia and Umbria, to produce the finest EVOO of whole Italy, it is often poured on the saltless bread to enhance its flavour and texture. Moreover you’ll be overwhelmed by all the products of Volterra’s territory, such as cold cuts, cheese, bread, meat and vegetables, all cooked and prepared in delicious dishes. 

During the lunch you’ll have the opportunity to taste a fine selection of Tuscany’s wines, worldwide renowned for their incredible scents and properties, such as Chianti, Sangiovese, Cigliegiolo and Vernaccia. 

Strolling around a UNESCO heritage

In order to digest the delicacies of the lunch, we’ll have a walk around the UNESCO site of San Gimignano, a magical village which was one of the most suggestive stops of the pilgrims who were following the Francigena road. The medieval town develops on the top of a hill and it is protected by a double round of walls. You are free to visit the Basil of Saint Mary of the Assumption’s Collegiate, built in 1056 and consecrated in 1148 and later expanded following the project of Giuliano da Maiano (1460). The frescoes, painted by the XVI Senese School’s artists such as Lippo, Federico Memmi and Bartolo di Fredi, cover the entire surface of the walls, representing the stories of the Old and New Testament. Around the centre you can explore the medieval streets or the Cistern’s Piazza while eating a refreshing gelato, wandering through the magical atmosphere of the town.