Private San Gimignano and Volterra

Placed on top of a hill dominating the Elsa Valley this lovely town is renowned for its numerous towers gathered in the historic centre and very dose to each other. Today there are only 14 of the original 72 towers. Although San Gimignano is of Etruscan origin, it started to develop only around the 12th century when the famous “Via Francigena” was built close by. Tuscany’s best white wine “Vernaccia di San Gimignano”, is available all over the town of towers. It was the first DOC wine in Italy and is today one of the few DOCG whites in the country. The Consortium of Vernaccia producers dates back at least to 1276.Then move to Volterra from it’s magnificent rocky promontory, the city surveys the sometimes wild, vast countryside surrounding it. It’s full of workshops where artisans craft the local alabaster into translucent souvenirs. From a windswept terrace road you can look over some of Tuscany’s best preserved Roman ruins.Last but not least discover the tiny village of Monteriggioni built by the Senese at the beginning of the 13th century as a defence outpost against the attacks of the Florentines. It has the aspect of a fortress and it’s completely surrounded by 15 towers and strong walls.