Volterra and the Spiritual Tuscany

Travel Program

1st day

Arrival, check in and possibility of individual visits. Overnight in a holiday home in Montaione.

2nd day

Breakfast. In the morning transfer for the free visit to the Sacro Monte di San Vivaldo, called the Jerusalem of Tuscany: it originated at the beginning of 1300, when the Franciscan Vivaldo Stricchi from San Gimignano retired there to hermit life, later found dead in the hollow trunk of a chestnut tree that served as his home. The conception of the Jerusalem of Tuscany was the work of the Franciscan friar Fra Tommaso da Firenze, between 1500 and 1515, to give the population the opportunity to make a pilgrimage even without going to Jerusalem which at that time was under the dominion of the Turks . For this reason, the set of chapels (which originally were 25 while today you can only admire 18) are arranged in such a way as to follow the exact reproduction (even if oriented differently and on a smaller scale) of the Jerusalem of the late fifteenth century. Characteristic of the chapels - which materially and symbolically reconstruct the essential places of the Via Dolorosa - is the presence within them of statuary groups in terracotta and paintings of the Robbiana school of the sixteenth century. Of considerable artistic and cultural interest, it is worth visiting the church adjacent to the convent and dedicated to San Vivaldo. Free lunch. In the afternoon free transfer to Gambassi Terme and meeting with the environmental guide for the beautiful walk and visit to Cava La Sciolta and Convento San Vettore: two sites close to each other but which are characterized by a different use of the territory by man, both in the municipality of Gambassi Terme: an old inert quarry (Cava La Sciolta) now disused and abandoned and a monastery, a medieval testimony perfectly preserved and integrated into the present (San Vettore). Two different landscape contexts that become scenarios of a traveling itinerary made up of observations, stories and readings; two consecutive actions, in the space of one afternoon. The next stop will take us on the Via Francigena to reach the Monastery of San Vettore: we will be welcomed by Erika & Peter Niesel, who have been taking care of this place for over thirty years. A visit to the private museum which contains artifacts and objects found during the recovery of the buildings and excavations represents another opportunity for further study. After an aperitif on the natural terrace among the "talking ruins" of the ancient site, our experience is completed by the possibility of an outdoor Yoga lesson (optional on request). Return to Montaione and overnight.

3rd day

Breakfast. Transfer by own vehicle to Volterra. Meeting with the guide to visit the city: a magnificent view of the Volterra countryside, the Larderello and the salt pans. Go down to the Porta all'Arco, the Etruscan gate of the Volterra walls to visit the medieval religious center: Baptistery and Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Piazza dei Priori, center of Volterra's political life since the 13th century: Palazzo dei Priori, Palazzo Pretorio, Torre del Porcellino, Loggia del Grano. Superb view of the theater and the Roman baths. You can admire the medieval tower houses: Tuscan tower houses and the crossroads of Buonparenti and during the walk it will be possible to see alabaster artists at work in their workshops. Continuation of the visit to the Enrico Fiumi park where the Acropolis of the Etruscan Velathri and the keep of the Medici fortress are located. Here you can have a picnic and it is easy to go down to the city center to find restaurants and shops with typical local products. Termination of services.