Siena, San Gimignano
and Volterra
Three nights around Siena, two between San Gimignano and Colle di Val d'Elsa, two in the Etruscan city of Volterra.
Towers, walls and Etruscan cities
This is the Tuscany of the medieval city-states: Siena and its Campo, San Gimignano and its towers, Monteriggioni inside its ring of walls, and Volterra on its ridge, older than all of them. The distances are short, which leaves time for the countryside in between.
- 1Siena 3 nights
- 2San Gimignano 2 nights
- 3Volterra 2 nights
7 days, 3 homes
For every stop: what to see and where to go, the dishes to try and where to eat them. Below, two or three of our homes in the area, with live rates for your nights.
Siena and Monteriggioni
Siena is a Gothic city built around a single square. Stay close enough to walk to the Campo at night, or just outside, near the walls of Monteriggioni.
What to see & where to go
- Piazza del Campo and the Torre del Mangia
- The Duomo, its marble floor and the Piccolomini Library
- Lorenzetti's Good and Bad Government in the Palazzo Pubblico
- Monteriggioni, the walled village Dante mentions in the Inferno
- The roofless Abbey of San Galgano and the sword in the stone
- The Palio, on 2 July and 16 August
What to eat
- Pici all'aglione and pici with toasted breadcrumbs
- Panforte and ricciarelli, the almond biscuits of Siena
- Cinta senese pork, as salumi or roasted
- Chianti Colli Senesi
Where to eat
- Osteria Le Logge, a few steps from the Campo
- Pici and ribollita at Trattoria Papei, in Piazza del Mercato
- Ricciarelli and panforte from Pasticceria Nannini
300 m from Piazza del Campo, with views over the city.Why stay hereThree hundred metres from Piazza del Campo, with views over the rooftops of Siena: you can walk everywhere.See the home
11th-century hamlet with a spa.Why stay hereAn 11th-century hamlet a few minutes from Monteriggioni, with a spa and a restaurant of Tuscan cooking.See the home
Historic hamlet among olive groves.Why stay hereA historic hamlet among olive groves near Monteriggioni, with gardens and a pool, a short drive from Siena.See the home
San Gimignano and Colle di Val d'Elsa
The medieval 'Manhattan' is best seen early in the morning or late in the day. Colle di Val d'Elsa, its quieter neighbour, is the town of crystal.
What to see & where to go
- The towers and Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano
- Ghirlandaio's frescoes of Santa Fina in the Collegiata
- Colle Alta, the upper town of Colle di Val d'Elsa
- A Vernaccia di San Gimignano tasting in the hills
- Certaldo Alto, Boccaccio's town, reached by funicular
- A stretch of the Via Francigena on foot
What to eat
- Vernaccia di San Gimignano, the white wine of the towers
- Saffron of San Gimignano, in risotto and fresh pasta
- Wild boar stew
- Crostini neri, toasted bread with chicken-liver pâté
Where to eat
- Gelato at Dondoli, in Piazza della Cisterna
- Arnolfo in Colle di Val d'Elsa, for a starred dinner
- Dishes with San Gimignano's DOP saffron
Historic palazzo in the medieval town, with a spa.Why stay hereIn the medieval town of Colle di Val d'Elsa, with a spa and pool: San Gimignano and Siena are both close.See the home
14th-century farmhouse with apartments and a pool.Why stay hereA 14th-century farmhouse between Siena and San Gimignano, with spacious apartments, a pool and a restaurant.See the home
Hillside villa with a garden and pool.Why stay hereA hillside villa in the Val d'Elsa with garden, terrace and pool, looking out over open countryside.See the home
Volterra, the Etruscan city
Built on a high ridge above the eroding cliffs of the Balze, Volterra has been inhabited for three thousand years and still works alabaster as it always has.
What to see & where to go
- The Guarnacci Etruscan Museum and the 'Shadow of the Evening'
- The Roman theatre and the Acropolis
- Piazza dei Priori and its 13th-century town hall
- The alabaster workshops of the old town
- The Balze, the cliffs west of the walls
- Larderello and the geothermal Valle del Diavolo
What to eat
- Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane
- Zuppa volterrana, the local bread and vegetable soup
- Pappardelle with hare or wild boar
- Truffle from the hills around Volterra and San Miniato, white in autumn
Where to eat
- Ristorante Del Duca, with its cellar carved into the rock
- Pappardelle with wild boar in any osteria
- White truffles from nearby San Miniato, in autumn
Country hotel with cookery courses and a pool.Why stay hereA country hotel in the hills near Volterra, with a pool and cookery courses in the kitchen.See the home
Ask our assistant
This itinerary is a starting point. Tell the assistant your dates and constraints and it re-plans the stops on our homes, then checks the rooms.
- We only have 7 days: which stop do we cut?
- Same route but with two children under 10: which homes work?
- Can you check the three homes for arrival on May 4?
