Getting There: Driving is the easiest way to get here: Volterra is on the SS68 about 30km (19 miles) from the Colle di Val d’Elsa exit on the Florence-Siena highway. From San Gimignano, head southwest on the road to Castel di San Gimignano, where you can pick up the SS68. You can park for free in a large lot below Porta Fiorentina, but you will pay a price—a climb up 350 steps to town.
From Siena, some 16 daily Tiemme buses (www.tiemmespa.it) make the 20- to 30-minute trip to Colle di Val d’Elsa, from which there are four daily buses to Volterra (50 min.). From San Gimignano, first take a bus to Poggibonsi (20 min.) then link up with those Colle di Val d’Elsa buses to Volterra. From Florence, take one of five daily buses (three on Sunday) to Colle di Val d’Elsa and transfer there (2.5 to 3 hr. total). Six to 10 CPT buses (www.cpt.pisa.it) run to Volterra Monday through Saturday from Pisa (change in Pontedera; 2 to 2.5 hr. total).Visitor Information: Volterra’s helpful tourist office, Piazza dei Priori 19–20 (www.volterratur.it; tel. 0588/87257), offers both tourist information and free hotel reservations. It’s open daily 9:30am to 1pm and 2 to 6pm. The office rents an audio guide (5€ for a handset) for an hour-long walk around town, providing some good tidbits about churches, palaces, and Etruscan and Roman remains along the way. You can also purchase a Volterra Card, worth the 16€ only if you’re planning to see some sights beyond the Etruscan museum and Pinacotecca, both of which are included.
Festivals & Markets -- The best local event for families is Volterra AD1398 (tel. 0588-86-099; www.volterra1398.it), on the final two Sundays in August. The town dresses head-to-toe in medieval garb, and kids don 14th-century dress and get to play as wool merchants or craftspeople. On the first Sunday of September, Volterrans dress up in medieval costume to engage in a bit of flag-tossing on Piazza dei Priori, an event known as the Astiludio. The sizable weekly market is Saturday morning adjacent to the Teatro Romano.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.