Get medieval on this guided tour from Sienna to San Gimignano and Volterra. Head to the marvelously diminutive hilltop town of Monteriggioni and then stop for a while in UNESCO world Heritage-listed San Gimignano with its plethora of medieval towers and commanding views over the Tuscan countryside. Finally, spend some time in an alabaster workshop in Volterra before indulging in a rustic lunch at a Tuscan farm. This small-group tour is limited to just eight people, ensuring plenty of personalized attention from the guide.

Full-day guided trip to San Gimignano and Volterra from Siena
Visit the medieval Fortress of Monteriggioni
Walk down the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage road in San Gimignano
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of San Gimignano at leisure
Visit an authentic workshop to see Volterra alabaster being made
Small-group tour (maximum of eight people) provides an intimate and personalized experience

What's Included

Driver/guide
Lunch
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Visit to alabaster workshop

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Piazza San Domenico
Piazza S. Domenico, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
Meet under the large tree next to the red brick church

Start time

09:30 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Head out of Siena in the morning traveling toward the medieval town of San Gimignano. Along the way, stop in the tiny town of Monteriggioni, a charming village on a hill that is defined by the centuries-old walls that encircle it. Stroll around the town, taking in the views and walking along the walls, learning from your guide about the history of the place.

From there, hop back in the automobile for San Gimignano, enjoying the rustic Tuscan countryside along the way: the villa-topped hills, the vineyard-clad rolling mounds of earth and the olive groves. Once in San Gimignano, walk down the Via Francigena, a pilgrimage route from the Middle Ages that stretches from Canterbury in England all the way to Rome. The path goes right through San Gimignano. Learn from your guide about pilgrims in the Middle Ages and even today that would trek through France and Switzerland, even the Alps, to eventually get to Rome.

Take some free time to do exploring on your own. Walk the narrow cobblestoned alleyways. Stare out at the vast Tuscan landscape before your eyes. Ascend one of the 14 matchstick-like stone towers, which were once inhabited by families in the Middle Ages. Linger for a while in Piazza del Duomo and perhaps pop into the church, the Collegiata. The exterior facade may look dull but the black-and-white striped Gothic interior is a showstopper.

After some exploration, take a load off for lunch at a family-run farm just outside of town. Feast on locally made delights such as cheese and prosciutto. And don't miss anything made with the locally produced saffron in it.

Later that afternoon, take a scenic drive south to the town of Volterra. The town, known for its alabaster -- the translucent stone used for centuries to create vases, lamps and other works of art -- is an aesthetically pleasing place to spend a little while. Watch craftsmen ply their trade and spend some time strolling the streets.

After about an hour, hop back on the bus and head back to Siena.

Basilica Cateriniana Di S. Domenico (Pass By)

Cantinetta di Monteriggioni

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

San Gimignano

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

San Gimignano 1300

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Volterra

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Cathedral of Volterra

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 16 hours of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infant seats available

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

103 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 103 reviews

Another great tour by this company

Melissa_L, Apr 2024

This was my third tour different with this company and I am never disappointed. Mattio ( I am sure I spelled his name wrong) was amazing, he was funny, knowledgeable, and made the day a great memory!

Memorable tour of Tuscany

Judi_P, Apr 2024

Wonderful guide Julia drove us safely through the Tuscan region visiting 3 key hilltop towns. She gave our small group a comprehensive dialogue about the sights, the history, the points of interest along the way. Delicious winery lunch provided by delightful hosts. The small group size allowed us to interact with fellow travellers and I felt that when the tour concluded, we had all become friends. A real highlight of our trip to Italy!

It really was so much better than what I expected.

Pauline_D, Nov 2023

The guide was excellent, lunch was amazing and the cities visited had that very special touch that want you to come back. Very very nice

Outstanding small group tour to San Gimignano

Mlfpdx, Nov 2023

We enjoyed the small tour to San Gimignano and Volterra with the lunch stop at the olive and spice farm immensely! We had an outstanding guide by the name of Guillermo. He was very knowledgeable and friendly and made history come alive! The lunch at the farm was excellent! The lady who prepared our lunch was very welcoming and served a beautiful and delicious lunch. We also heard a presentation on the production of saffron. I would recommend this tour most highly and would give Guillermo a 5 star rating!

San Gimignano, William the guide, the winery luncheon = 5 star PLUS

Deborah_M, Oct 2023

This Viator exceeded our expectations. We mainly booked it to see San Gimignano but the luncheon at the winery was over the top--the setting, the food, the wine, and the vineyard owners. WOW. William, our guide, was also exceptional and engaging. It was a lovely day in the Tuscan Hills from Siena.

Old Ages Tuscan fun.

Barry_W, Oct 2023

Elio was the best guide. He was fun and knowledgeable. He went out of his way to make sure we all had a wonderful time. Highly recommend.

A perfect day trip in Tuscany

Gary_G, Sep 2023

This was one of the best day trips I’ve had in Italy. The itinerary was perfect and the lunch will live long in my memory because of the quality of the food and the views. Bellissimo. The very best part was our guide. We called him Bill. He was incredibly knowledgeable about everything we saw and his commentary wa exactly what was required. He is also hilarious and kept us all laughing through the whole trip. My score for you is 11/10.

Great tour, brilliant guide.

Glenn_I, Aug 2023

Very professionally run tour. Very knowledgeable and passionate guide. Great content , highly recommend.

Amazing Tour and Private Lunch

Gabriel_G, Jul 2023

Our tour guide was Keko and he was really great! Very knowledgeable and experienced. Every single part of this tour was one to remember. We loved San Gimgnano and Volterra! I felt we had just enough time at each destination and loved his advice of “just getting lost” on each location. It was a great way to experience each town. We absolutely loved the private lunch at an eco-tour destination. The food was amazing and our host was great too! I’d definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a new experience to plan into their itinerary.

Great tour!!

Tracy_S, Jul 2023

Excellent trip! Our guide was amazing. The towns we saw were amazing, the lunch was our best meal and the alabaster workshop was so interesting and he makes lovey pieces. Highly recommend this trip!!

Keiko was an excellent...

Gayle_G, Jul 2023

Keiko was an excellent tour guide with lots of good historical information. The best farm to table meal we have had on our 3 week journey. Alabaster demonstration was very unique and appreciated. Nice to have a small group and own van to get from village to village. Good driver! I would highly recommend this tour.

Wonderful day with a history lesson.

Alison_M, Jun 2023

A wonderful day learning about the history and importance of the three gorgeous little towns we visited. Keko made the trip so interesting, and the small size of the group made it a personal and comfortable day. What a wonderful way to reach these little jewel towns.

Fun and Educational Day Tour

Ann_P, May 2023

I enjoyed everything! The beautiful countryside, medieval walled cities, my guides personality, and knowledge of the area and sites. Also the visit to a traditional artist alabasters studio. Lunch and wine tasting was definitely a treat.

Highly recommend, especially with “Bill”!

Marni_G, May 2023

What an amazing day! The stops that we made were so great, I absolutely loved San Gimignano and Volterra, and our lunch was so delicious at a gorgeous Tuscan farm. What made the day extra special though was the people! Our group got to know each other quickly because of the welcoming and friendly atmosphere that our tour guide/driver provided for us from the first moment. Most of all though, he was the most hilarious and somehow also brilliantly knowledgeable guide that I’ve ever come across. He really made the day, and the beautiful and fascinating stops were just the icing on the cake,

Best ever trip - I highly recommend it

Sarah_D, May 2023

BEST TRIP EVER - I highly recommend this very informative and packed trip. Our guide Keko, was amazing. He was so helpful, enthusiastic and passionate about explaining the history of the different locations we were visiting plus the history behind the Francigena trail, the difference between Chianti and Chianti Classico wines, safe glutine content found in ancient wheat grains, amongst many other topics of interest. We were also treated to a visit to a genuine artisan producing, by hand, the most beautiful items from Alabaster, not to mention a delicious lunch set in an organic farm which also produces Saffron. Absolutely perfect day.

Guillermo was an...

mark_r, Apr 2023

Guillermo was an excellent guide. Informative and friendly. He added a lot of local flavor to an excellent tour

Toscana Mini trip

Ildik_S, Mar 2023

Everything was very amazing, I can only recommend it to everyone. The tour guide explained everything in detail. I would go back whenever I can.

Good way to enjoy some of the highlights of the Tuscan scene surrounding Siena. Z

triciaburritt, Oct 2022

Great day out in Tuscany! Good itinerary and lovely lunch en route. Driver was pleasant and well organised. It would have been helpful if he had had a little more guidance about the important landmarks in the 3 town visited. Time was quite short at each place and it was difficult to know where to focus time.

I loved this trip...

Julia_S, Oct 2022

I loved this trip especially the alabaster work shop in Volterra. Bring Plenty of euros because you will want to purchase a piece of hand worked alabaster. Some pieces are 500 or more. Gorgeous! The lunch was delicious and we purchased saffron. Very fun!

tour guide

Deborah_S, Oct 2022

Our guide was informative, a great driver in Italian traffic and she made the experience very enjoyable.

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