The gorgeous little market town with pretty cobbled streets and incredible food

When you take a drive just over an hour away from Pisa Airport, you'll find yourself in the rolling hills of Tuscany and in the heart of a quaint market town perfect for avid explorers.

Volterra is a walled town sitting on the mountaintopsin Italy, with a rich history that carries stories throughout the entire area. With buildings and findings that date it as far back as the 8th century BC, there is a substantial amount to uncover, and architecture from the Etruscan, Roman, and Mediaeval periods.

Perched on the edge of a majestic ridge that beautifully overlooks the Sienese hills, Volterra commands the areas surrounding it and remains one of Italy's hidden treasures. While it's not half as busy as some of its neighbouring towns and cities, it has just as much, if not more, to offer to its visitors.

Things to do

Listed as the top thing to do when visiting Volterra is to make some time to explore the Museo Etrusco Guarnacci, a museum dedicated to Italy's best collections of Etruscan artefacts. For history buffs it doesn't quite stop there, as the Palazzo Viti is a private residence famed for its grand settings and fine artefacts belonging to a descendant of the Viti family.

Travellers on TripAdvisor can't help but rate the Piazza dei Priori highly, as the town's centre with cobbled roads and towering buildings. A review claims: "The main square in the historic centre of Volterra. It is worth lingering or exploring the surrounding lanes and squares."

Meanwhile another tourist shared: "Perhaps one of the top Tuscan sights is the Piazzo dei Priori embedded in the manageable, enclosed, beautiful old town of Volterra. The peaceful atmosphere invites you to linger in one of the cafés before exploring the surrounding streets."

Volterra's Roman trail is considered a must-do activity if you ever find yourself in the town, revealing Roman remains in a beautiful setting. The 4 km trail offers sightings of a well-preserved Roman theatre along with the recently discovered Roman amphitheatre as you take a moderate hike through the hills surrounding Volterra.

Markets

Week in, week out, both locals and visitors can expect to see an open market take place each Saturday in the town centre. Hosted from the early hours at 8:00am right up until late lunchtimeat 1:00pm, you can source local goods and crafts as you wander the cobbled streets.

Although, dating further back, the town did gain a reputation for its historical Alabaster Market. It was a trade market that dates all the way back to the Etruscans. In the area there are still a host of shops selling locally made alabaster items, along with other handicrafts goods.