Cortona or Volterra?

If Rome2Rio.com can be trusted, Cortona will be a much quicker trip: around 90 minutes by train to Camucia-Cortona (then bus/taxi up to the hill town) vs. about 3 hours to Volterra (bus being perhaps a bit faster than the train). I'm not sure how close the train station is to the historic part of Volterra.

We really loved Volterra, however it's southwest of San Gimignano and somewhat in the middle of an area to itself. It's located way up on a hilltop.

I didn't think there was any train that went out to Volterra. It'd be a place you'd need to take a bus to. Or better yet, take a rental car and just ramble through the countryside.

we liked both, we stayed in cortona and found it had less tourists than volterra. we found volterra a bit more 'gritty' for memory. we drove to both,

Cortona is so easy from Florence, much much easier than Volterra. It is a small place but with many things to see. Really nice Etruscan museum and terrific collection of Signorelli paintings in another museum. Lovely streets to walk, feels like a village. It's quite hilly so wear your walking shoes!

Wendi,

I love Cortona! It has so much to offer from great restaurants (see other threads for suggestions), a treasure trove of churches, wonderful views of the valley below, and some wonderful museums.

Thank you all soon much for your input! Cortona it is!!!! I'll figure out the transportation connections and I'm excited to see it! Grazie!!!!

Take the train directly from Florence to Cortona-Camucia. The station is actually in Camucia, at the bottom of the hill from Cortona. From there take the bus up to Cortona. Very easy.
Train timetables below:
www.trenitalia.com
Enter station name in Italian:
Florence main station=Firenze Santa Maria Novella

Not sure when my next trip to Italy will be, but thanks to this thread, Cortona just jumped to the top of my "must visit" list. Thanks!