The door knockers, between floral motifs and monstrous beings

Walking through the streets of the historic center of Volterra can reveal, to the most curious eyes, some nice surprises! Have you ever discovered the art hidden behind door knockers?

Knocker, clapper, mallet or knocker; since man felt the need to protect himself and his possessions inside a house, not only the need to close was born, but also the opposite need, that of to notice anyone who wanted to signal his presence outside the home and thus allow him to enter. This led to the invention of a special instrument, perfected over time and called a knocker or knocker.

Continue reading “I battenti dei portoni, tra motivi floreali ed esseri mostruosi” →

8 Tips on What to See in Volterra

Impressive Etruscan and medieval walls surround and protect the historic center of the hill, a historic city that preserves traces of its ancient past. It's one of the unmissable stops on your trip to Tuscany, which has always revealed its incredible secrets of elegant palaces, museums, churches, and medieval towers. Volterra is an esoteric city that has fascinated poets, artists, writers, and visitors on the Grand Tour, so you too can't be less captivated.

Bring flat shoes because in Volterra you'll be walking, I assure you. Depending on your tastes, you may prefer different museums, activities, or monuments, and here the advice becomes less general and absolute. For this reason, we wanted to develop different articles based on the type of tourism and the time you have available; so here is a complete guide on what to see in Volterra and surroundings.

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6 places to enjoy an aperitif in the hills

The aperitif is a social phenomenon which has gained increasing importance over the last few years, becoming for many an indispensable ritual, an opportunity to have a quiet chat or catch your breath and relax at the end of a long day.

In the historic center of Volterra the aperitif is consumed from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, then resume after dinner with a greater influx from 11pm. The apericena is not very common, but many people indulge in the long aperitivo, where the meal is limited to just the appetizers.

The aperitivo lungo isn't the same as an apericena, as many might think, as there's no need to ask for extra appetizers or snacks that add to the price of drinks. If anything, the apericena can be considered a tasting, but instead of cocktails, quality wines and beers are served.

There are places where you can enjoy aperitivo until 8:00 PM, and others where, with hindsight, you can stay late into the night. For those working, studying, or simply enjoying a leisurely trip to Volterra, we recommend the best places to enjoy a drink.

Continue reading “6 mete dove bere l’aperitivo in sù” →