San Gimignano - Volterra - Siena

Route: Florence - San Gimignano - Volterra - Siena - Florence
Duration: 11 h
Our first stop will be at the medieval village San Gimignano, famous for its 13th-century towers, which symbolize the prosperity of its merchants.  With its characteristic Medieval architecture and its stunning skyline of towers, the historic centre of San Gimignano has been declared a World Heritage Site, under the protection of UNESCO. San Gimignano rises on top of a hill 334m above sea level and is visible from a distance with its many still existing towers. Only 13 towers of the 72 towers from the fourteenth century still survive, and they form what has become one of the most distinctive Tuscan skylines of today. We will start at the Porta S. Giovanni gate and, following the Pilgrim’s route, finishes at the Porta S. Marco gate, taking notice of the town’s central Piazza della Cisterna, Piazza del Duomo with its Romanesque cathedral (the Collegiata) and the Palazzo del Podesta, the Salvucci’s towers, the charming medieval streets and the S. Agostino Church, famous for its lovely fresco cycle by Benozzo Gozzoli which tells of the life of St. Augustine. Also you can to do shopping for local products at the artisans’ shops which are filled with linen, leather products, pottery, olive oil and wine. Next we will visit to Volterra where our tour will start from the spectacular Piazza dei Priori, which is overlooked by the austere Palazzo dei Priori, and many other buildings that made up the political heart of the city in the Middle Ages. Behind the square is the Romanesque Cathedral, with its elegant and recently restored bell tower, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, an octagonal structure dating back to the thirteenth century, with walls decorated in the classic two-tone of white and green marble. The visit will continue in the dense warren of medieval streets and alleys where you can admire Viti Palace, the church of San Michele, the Etruscan urns embedded in the walls near “Porta Fiorentina” and the beautiful archaeological site of the Roman Theatre. The city is still endowed with the medieval city walls and in some places you can also see the massive cyclopic walls of Etruscan age. Volterra is dominated by the Medici Fortress and offers countless splendid vantage points where the view sweeps over the typical landscape of the “Balze” (cliffs) of the surrounding valley. There we will visit to Palazzo Incontri Viti which is one of the most beautiful private residences of Italy. In 1850 Giuseppe Viti, an alabaster trader, purchased the palace and carried out extensive restoration work. In the numerous rooms you reliving the magic atmosphere of times past. Everything has remained as have seen, over the centuries, the Kings and the Princes who were hosted. Next we will visit to Siena which is a treasure trove of historical, artistic, religious and cultural riches all to be discovered. During city tour you will be able to appreciate the major tourist attractions like Piazza del Campo, the true heart of the town, the Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), the Cathedral and the majestic Basilica of San Domenico. There will also be no lack of references to the great noble families, such as the Piccolomini, Tolomei and Salimbeni, and their palazzos, to the great tradition of the Siena Palio, but also to the stories of pilgrimage and saintliness that distinguish the town. The walk will continue with a visit to the Cathedral that preserves the treasures of artists like Nicola Pisano, Duccio di Buoninsegna, Donatello, Pinturicchio and Gianlorenzo Bernini besides its marvelous marble floor, which is a unique example in the history of art. After we return to Florence.
Price: per person