An ancient center for alabaster carving, the walled Etruscan town of Volterra is perched on a high plateau with heart-stopping views. Explore its narrow streets and visit the Guarnacci Museum of Etruscan and Roman antiquities. 45 minutes away is UNESCO-listed San Gimignano, a medieval hilltop town with 14 fortified towers, leftovers from the Guelph-Ghibelline / Pope vs. Holy Roman Empire rivalry of the 12th-13th centuries. Enjoy lunch at a nearby fattoria (farm/vineyard) before returning to this picture-postcard village, perhaps succumbing to a refreshing gelato at Sergio Dondoli Gelateria di Piazza! Stop in Pisa at the Piazza dei Miracoli for its Romanesque Leaning Tower, Duomo, Baptistery and Campo Santo Cemetery.
*NOTE: Pisa visit may be either in the morning or on the return journey, depending on starting point. Lunch and gelato are not included.
