Hello. We are going to Italy in September and are deciding between staying in San Gimignano or Volterra. We are planning day trips to Florence and Sienna. We are curious which town might be better as a home base including availability of good restaurants and maybe music in the evening. Thank you for your suggestions.
Posted by
616 posts
unless you already know Florence, you would need to spend at least 2 nights in Florence. (3 would be best)
Between Volterra and San Gimignano, I would choose Volterra, much easier for daytrips.
Posted by
616 posts
In Florence, you could have plenty of music.
If interested let me know.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
8012 posts
I would select Siena (our favorite) as your base and take the day trips to the other locations. San Gimignano is very small and crowded with tourists during the day.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1898 posts
I'd stay in Florence and day trip it to Volterra and San G. Florence has so much more to offer ---unless you've already been there a lot. Both Volterra and San G are very small towns...so if it's quiet you are looking for, then these would be better. Both will be crowded during the day - as is Florence..with all the bus tour groups visiting all the major sights.
Florence has the ease of train and bus station for destinations everywhere. Siena is also great as a base, it's smaller than Florence, but you are limited, since the train station is a taxi ride away from the old center.
I also don't think (or remember, having been to both Volterra and San G) that there is a train station-you may be limited to using a bus for day trips...are you renting a car?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16240 posts
If you have a car, it is best to stay somewhere near San Gimignano or Poggibonsi or, even better, Colle Val D'Elsa. Volterra would not be the best base to visit Florence or Siena (not sure why the previous commenter said otherwise, she must not be from the area).
If you don't have a car and rely on public transportation, then you should stay in either Florence or Siena.
Posted by
Delanson, NY
79 posts
San Gimignano has the towers and it definitely makes for the most impressive sight from the adjacent hills as you approach. But Volterra is the more interesting place overall. I stayed at a place called the Hotel Foresteria Volterra. It was out a rural road, about one mile outside the city wall, but at a similar elevation so one could walk back into town. Clientele was Italians, Germans/Austrians and some from eastern Europe so not your typical RS recommended place that abounds with USA tourists. There are numerous parking lots around the perimeter of the walled town. The one down below where RV parking takes place costs less and you walk up a long series of staircases up to the old town.
It is about 20 minutes drive from Volterra to San Gimignano.
Posted by
Delanson, NY
79 posts
We found several good small restaurants in Volterra and numerous shops along the narrow ancient streets. You'll find a lot selling the local alabaster. There was a really good shop run by an older man on a side street near the Piazza XX Settembre. I don't know much about music or nightlife in this small Tuscan hill town as did not seek it out. There was a wine tasting festival with some entertainment in town that weekend in early May 2015.