Admire the majestic towers and walls of the ancient castle that rises above Volterra and is now a prison and a restaurant.
From its hilltop vantage point above the town, the Medici Fortress dominates the skyline of Volterra. This colossal medieval stronghold is actually two castles joined together by a series of walls.
See if you can spot the oldest part of the fort. Completed in 1292, the fort’s easternmost section was later a stand-alone castle called the Cassero. Construction of the rest of the building started in the middle of the 14th century.
Looking up at the enormous battlements, imagine how the huge structure served to protect the town. Today, the fortress is a prison and largely inaccessible to the public. However, it does have a restaurant, which is open once a month. The meals are cooked and served by prisoners, who are assisted by well-known Italian chefs.
Although you cannot tour the castle interior, you can admire the imposing exterior from the archeological park beneath its walls. Inspect the park’s major historical attraction, the Etruscan acropolis. You will see the foundations of two Etruscan temples and the remains of homes from the Hellenistic period, which are more than 2,000 years old. The site also encloses a system of cisterns and the ruins of medieval roads and towers.
You can hail a taxi, catch a bus or drive to get to the archeological park and Medici Fortress on Volterra’s central hilltop. There are metered parking lots near the town center and around the castle walls, as well as free parking at Docciola nearby. If you are getting around Tuscany by public transportation, note that Volterra doesn't have its own train station. The nearest ones are a few miles away, but are connected to the town by bus.
For details of prices, opening times and how to make a reservation at the Medici Fortress restaurant, get in touch with Volterra's tourist office. While you are in the area, explore some of the other historical attractions, including the cathedral and the Roman Theater.
