Palazzo dei Priori
Rising above Piazza dei Priori since 1208, this crenellated palazzo is the oldest town hall in Tuscany — and arguably in all of Italy. Climb its tower for a 360-degree panorama that stretches from the Colline Metallifere to the sea on a clear day.
A Living Piece of Medieval Power
The palazzo's façade is studded with ceramic medallions bearing the coats of arms of Florentine governors, each one a quiet record of the city's turbulent political history. Step inside to find the Sala del Consiglio, where frescoes by Florentine and local masters cover nearly every surface.
The ground floor hosts rotating civic exhibitions, so even repeat visitors tend to find something new. The building is still an active seat of local government, which gives it an authenticity that a pure museum can never quite replicate.
The Tower Climb
The 159-step ascent up the narrow stone staircase is steep but manageable, and the reward is a rooftop terrace that frames Volterra's famous skyline of medieval towers against the rolling crete senesi landscape.
Come in the golden hour before sunset and the tufa-stone rooftops glow amber — one of the most photogenic moments in all of Tuscany. On exceptionally clear winter days you can spot the Tyrrhenian Sea glinting on the horizon.
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