ITALY BLOG SEPTEMBER 4th, 2025 - VOLTERRA

 

9/4/25– 5am wake up for our 6:57am train. We check out of the hotel (when I say check out I mean just leave the keycard in the room and leave quietly), and get an Uber to the train station. It’s only a ten minute walk but with luggage it feels like a ton.

Our train is ready for departing shortly after we arrive, however our tickets say we are to be in couch #9. Well problem, because the train only goes to #7. We ask an attendant who checks our ticket before she calls for her supervisor. This isn’t going to be good news I’m assuming. Sure enough, our train no longer goes to our destination of Cecina and somehow we were never notified of this.

As she fidgets through her electronic pad to find a solution I ask how close one of the stops is. Luckily it goes to Campiglia, which is only twenty minutes away from Cecina. I confirm if we can still take this train to there and then just hop on a regional train for the rest and she agrees that’ll be best. So, she gives us seat numbers and off we go. She is very nice about everything and apologies profusely for the trouble. Who says everyone in Europe is harsh?

It’s very quiet in the cabin for the two hour journey, allowing me to get some sleep here and there. When our stop arrives around 9:20am, we grab our luggage and look at the schedule for the next train (should be about 10am), but luck will have it, the earlier train is being delayed and due to come to the station in a few minutes. Nice! I knew it would work out.

The second train we basically just hopped on figuring if an attendant asks for our ticket then we’ll show them our original with an explanation if needed, but no one bothered us for the twenty minute ride. Of course the elevator is out at the station so have to lug both suitcases through the platforms, up and down stairs just to get outside. Whew! Already tired but survivable.

We have a car reserved for pickup from EuropCar, which is only a six minute walk but again with luggage feels daunting. We are provided a compact stick-shift, which I completely forgot I booked as I thought it would be an automatic, and then walk outside, pressing the unlock button several times before finding our car down the street. Beep, beep! Check!

Takes a few moments to get used to the manual transmission but this car is very easy to maneuver. Like riding a bike, I maneuver out of the parallel parking spot with map directions up ready to explore the town of Volterra.

The drive takes fifty minutes as we arrive around 11am. Parking is quite difficult to find around this walled town and have to drive for a bit before locating a spot near the small bus station. I try to pay for it using the app provided on the sign but nothing comes up, so hopefully our car will be okay for the day.

We venture up the long stairwell that leads to the outer walls of town and am met with a grand view of the castle as we enter the stone archway. It takes a few minutes to walk to the center where we see multiple shops, restaurants and churches laid out. The further we go in the more people surround us until at one point it starts to feel like a section of Disneyland. No joke! “Come to Medieval City land, where all your dreams come truish.”

Despite the crowd, it’s actually a pleasant walk around with great views of the surrounding landscapes and narrow passageways from the main strip. It’s a cute little town that seems lively and calm at the same time, if that’s a thing.

Winding through the streets, we come to Palazzo Pretorio and Palace of the Priors. These buildings are the base for the Twilight series books and movies for any fans out there, and you can pay 10 Euros to walk to the top of the palazzo for a view. We didn’t go up as 150 steps is not what we are looking for at the moment.

Around the corner, we find a nicely rated Italian restaurant and order carbonara with bruschetta. To be honest, the food is okay with the carbonara very yokey and bruschetta filled with toppings that resemble more of a delicacy than an actual meal. The portion is also very small, which suits us as we’re not big eaters anyhow.

Next on the list is the Roman theatre. It cost 10 Euros to enter these ruins and is a quick walk through from a distance (meaning we can’t enter the actual ruins area). As we go we notice people outside of the gated area taking pictures, so apparently this can be viewed from the city walls just as well for free. No matter, it’s something to do and we enjoy it.

This is where the tiredness creeps in as we decide to head back toward the car, with fingers crossed that it’s still there. As we climb back down the many steps to the parking area a spell of relief consumes me as I see our car, although with a ticket attached to it. Hey, I tried to pay.

The drive to our hotel in Guardistallo is just as nice through rolling hills and vineyards. We reach our hotel (Beatabb) around 3:30pm, find street parking and knock on the door without an answer. I search around for an intercom but none can be found, so I text the number I have on my reservation using WhatsApp. It takes ten minutes before I finally get a reply with check-in instructions, followed by an apology that she didn’t have my information earlier to forward this to. Hey, I’m just happy we made it in one piece.

Once we get to our room (and of course there are two flights of steps) we notice the enchanting view of the hills and town outside our window. We rest for several hours, mainly waiting for everything to open back up as it seems many are closed for a long siesta until 6pm. That’s when I make my way through town to get a margherita pizza and notice the lively atmosphere in the town center. What a unique and simply way to live, with so much charm and beauty surrounding it’s no wander Tuscany is a favorite place for many to travel to. Especially with this sunset… Amazing!