Volterra, Italy – Appleby Photography

I love Volterra, Italy because it remains fiercely loyal to its Etruscan roots.

We only had one day here, so we had to make the most of it. The views were stunning and the stories about this city made its past come alive for me.

Volterra’s history goes back further than the Roman Empire. As the oldest of the walled cities in the Tuscany area, it dates back over 2,400 years. You can still see one of the stone arches from the old city walls built by the Etruscans in the 4th century BC, which inspired Roman design.

Even after the city was conquered by Rome and later taken over by the Medici family, Volterra has kept its independent thinking and proudly shows off its history. We got an amazing tour of the town and learned about its past from Annie, an American who now lives in Volterra with her Italian husband. I recommend her tours: volterrawalkingtour.com.

view of rooftops in walled city of volterra italy